The Alternative Press

On Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at approximately 9:24 AM, the Newton Police Department received a report of a stolen motor vehicle from the U-Save Mini Mart Convenience Store, which is located at 65 Sparta Avenue.  Upon arrival, Newton Police Officers were met by the owner of the vehicle who stated that he was in the store for about 5 minutes and when he came out, he observed his vehicle was missing from the parking lot.  The vehicle was a 2011 Buick Regal.  The victim then contacted the police.  He indicated that the keys were left in the vehicle while he was in the store.

Video surveillance from the U-Save showed an individual approach the front of the store and then walk directly to the victim’s vehicle.  The vehicle was then seen pulling out of the parking space.  Witnesses at the scene said they saw the vehicle heading east on Sparta Avenue.  Officers directed Newton PD dispatchers to broadcast an alert over the State Police Emergency Network (SPEN) radio channel to area police departments advising them of the description of the stolen vehicle and suspect.

A short time later, a Sparta Township Police Officer located the vehicle traveling south on Route 15 in Sparta, NJ.  The officer initiated a motor vehicle stop on Route 15 and the driver pulled to the side of the highway, but failed to stop.  The vehicle then took off on Route 15 with the Sparta Police Officer attempting to stop him.

At this time, dispatchers contacted On-Star and they were able to disable the vehicle.  With the assistance of On-Star, the vehicle was located in the parking lot of Dover Dodge, a car dealership located on Route 15 in Rockaway Township, NJ.  When police officers arrived, they discovered that the suspect abandoned the vehicle.  A K-9 officer was contacted and assisted with the search for the suspect.

While searching, an employee from the NJ State Division of Transportation advised officers on scene that the suspect was walking South on Route 15.  The suspect was apprehended near the NJ DOT maintenance lot and detained by police.  He matched the description of the suspect on the video from the U-Save Mini Mart.   He was identified as Daniel M. Cirigliano, a 33 year old male from Egg Harbor, NJ, and was taken into custody.

Cirigliano was charged with following offenses from the Newton Police Department:

·         Burglary, N.J.S. 2C:18-2a(1), a Third Degree Crime

·         Theft of a Movable Property, N.J.S. 2C:20-3a, a Third Degree Crime

Hon. Judge Craig U. Dana, JMC authorized the issuance of an arrest warrant and set bail at $35,000 with no 10% for charges by Newton Police. 

Cirigliano was charged with following offenses by the Sparta Township Police Department:

·         Eluding, N.J.S. 2C:29-2b, a Second Degree Crime

·         Title 39 violations:  Speeding, Reckless Driving, and Failure to Yield to an Emergency Vehicle

Hon. Judge C.W. Bowkley, JMC authorized the issuance of an arrest warrant and set bail at $45,000 with no 10% for charges by Sparta Police.

Cirigliano was transported to and processed at Newton Police Headquarters.  He was then lodged in the Sussex County Jail in default of bail totaling $80,000 no 10% option.

The incident was investigated by members of the Newton Police Departments’ Patrol Division and Detective Bureau.  Agencies assisting with the investigation were Police Departments from Sparta Township, Wharton Borough, Rockaway Township, and the Morris County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit.