Case Update July 18
On July 14, 2023, at 10:50 am, Millburn Police responded to White Oak Ridge road and met with a mail
carrier, who reported that a suspect just stole mail from her postal vehicle. The postal employee stated
that she was delivering a package to a White Oak Ridge Road residence, when she saw a suspect reach
into her mail truck and steal a tray of mail. The suspect then fled in a black sedan. This incident remains
under investigation by the Millburn Police Detective Bureau.
On July 14, 2023 at 11:25 am, Millburn Police Officer Matos responded to Locust Ave on a report of
attempted burglary to a motor vehicle. The reporting person stated that unknown actors attempted to
enter a parked USPS vehicle. The two suspects were described as Hispanic males. They then fled in a
black Infiniti Q50. This incident remains under investigation by the Millburn Police Detective Bureau.
On July 15, 2023 at 1:59 am, Millburn Police Officer Recinos and Kostovski responded to the Millburn
Standard on a report of an assault that had just occurred. The officers pulled up and met with the
Millburn standard security guard, who reported that he was punched in the face multiple times, by the
actor, who then left and walked towards Essex St. Millburn Police located the suspect in Millburn
Municipal parking lot 5. The investigation led to the arrest of Thomas Levecchia, age 47, of Scotch
Plains. He was charged with simple assault, and was released on his own recognizance.
On July 15, 2023, Millburn Police Officer Shanahan responded to a Wyoming Ave residence on a report
of an attempted burglary to a vehicle. The resident reported that, two unknown suspects attempted to
gain entry to her 2015 Audi A3, but were unsuccessful because her doors were locked. The males then
fled in awaiting blue Nissan sedan, which was stolen out of East Orange. This same suspects in this
vehicle also entered an unlocked Sagamore residence vehicle, a 2019 BMW, and stole $10 out of the
center console, and fled the area. These incidents remains under investigation by the Millburn Police
Detective Bureau.
On July 15 2023, at 6:40 pm, Millburn Police Officer Jezewski responded to Ralph Lauren Polo at the Mall
at Short Hills for a report of theft. Ralph Lauren manager reported that an hour earlier, on CCTV, she
observed a female suspect selected a handbag (valued at $498.00) from a display rack and then
concealed it in a Gap shopping bag, and exited the store. The suspect was described as a light skin black
female with braids. This incident remains under investigation by the Millburn Police Detective Bureau.
On July 16, 2023, at 12:22 pm Officer Reid located a wanted individual, standing in front of Starbucks on
Millburn Ave. The suspect Russel Harnew, age 38, of Freehold NJ was detained. A record check of
Harnew was completed and confirmed that he had an active warrant for $2,500.00 for his arrest out of
Cinnaminson, NJ. He was placed under arrest and transported to Millburn HQ for processing. He was
turned over to Cinnaminson Police, without incident.
On July 16, 2023, Millburn Police Officer Jezewski responded to a Hartshorn Drive residence on a report
of attempted burglary to the residence. The resident reported that at 03:54 am, his burglar alarm went
off, and he found one of his side doors open. The Police arrived and cleared house of any suspects. The
resident reported that his home security camera showed at 03:53, two male suspects attempting to enter his residence through an unlocked side door. As they opened the door, the alarm was activated
and the suspects fled the area. This incident remains under investigation by the Millburn Police
Detective Bureau.
On June 16 2023 at 03:29 pm, Millburn Police Officer Dundon located a stolen vehicle in the Hartshorn
school parking lot. The vehicle was a stolen 2016 Audi A6, stolen out of Demarest NJ. As Officer Dundon
pulled into the schools parking lot, he observed a black male suspect attempting to change a flat tire on
the stolen vehicle. As soon as the suspect was made aware of the officer’s presence, he began to run
from the area. Two other suspects that were in the stolen vehicle, also began running from the scene.
The three suspects were able to elude officers on foot, they were last seen running towards Addison
drive. Essex County K9 and multiple other jurisdictions arrive to assist looking for the outstanding
suspects, with negative results. The vehicle was impounded. This incident remains under investigation
by the Millburn Police Detective Bureau.
On July 17, 2023 at 02:46 am, Millburn Police Officer Crawn responded to the Short Hills Ter apartments
on a report of an attempted burglary to motor vehicle. The reporting person stated that he heard his
car alarm go off, and he then observed two actors attempting to enter his parked 2008 Mercedes Benz.
He the exited his apartment and ran towards the actors. The actors got into a silver Hyundai suv and fled
the area. The owner of the vehicle followed them onto 78 east where he lost track of them. This incident
remains under investigation by the Millburn Police Detective Bureau.
On July 17, at 02:46 am Clifton Police contacted Millburn dispatch and requested MPD to get in contact
with a Short hills Terrace apartment resident. The Millburn resident’s vehicle, a 2019 Volkswagen Passat,
was just involved in a rollover crash in Clifton, and the passengers were seen running from the vehicle.
Millburn Police Officer Crawn met with the owner, who learned his vehicle was missing from his parking
space and was stolen. He stated it was left unlocked with the Key fob inside of it.
On July 17, 2023 at 10:54 am, Millburn Police Detective DeRosa located a stolen vehicle, parked at the
gas pumps at the Exxon gas station on South Orange Ave. The vehicle was a stolen 2017 Mercedes Benz
AMG 63, stolen out of Long Branch NJ. Detective DeRosa along with Officer Reid surrounded the stolen
vehicle. The driver of the stolen vehicle then went in reversed striking the police vehicle, and then fled
at a high rate of speed. Detective DeRosa pursued the vehicle east on South Orange Ave into the s-turns,
but shortly after terminated the pursuit. This incident remains under investigation by the Millburn Police
Detective Bureau.
On July 17, 2023, at 7:30 pm, Millburn Police Officer Palmer and Officer Lyons responded to Burberry at
the Mall at Short Hills for a report of a shoplifting theft that just occurred. Burberry manager reported
that a female (age 38), later identified as Shantia Williams, out of Baltimore MD, had concealed a
Burberry shirt and pair of pants, valued at $1090.00 and left the store without paying. Officer Palmer
and Lyons were able to locate this female in Louis Vuitton .Williams was placed under arrest and
charged with shoplifting, she was later released on her own recognizance. These are accusations. All
defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty in a court
of law.
