Disorderly Male Burglarizes School; Damages Residential Property

On July 30, 2018 at approximately 2:53 am, the Riverside Police responded to a call for a disorderly male banging on the doors of several residences near the downtown area.   During the investigation, the police received reports from several residents about a male who attempted to enter their homes by force.  They awoke to a male banging forcefully on their doors seemingly attempting to gain entry.  The suspect did not gain entry to any residence.  The homeowners reported damage to the exterior of their houses and other property.  Officers located a male walking nearby along a residential street fitting the description of the suspect.  He was found to be holding a fire extinguisher and in possession of a gold hand-sized crucifix.  The suspect was identified as Isaac Tzalam Lucas, 19 years, of Riverside. 

As a result of the investigation, it was determined that Lucas also vandalized and gained entry to the former St. Peter’s Parochial School building on Middleton St.  Once inside, Lucas stole a fire extinguisher, a crucifix and caused damage within the building.   

Lucas was charged with Burglary, Theft, Criminal Mischief, Defiant Trespassing and Criminal Attempt – Burglary.  Lucas was lodged at the Burlington County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.  

Isaac Tzalam Lucas

COME JOIN US FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT!

• Riverside Police and Fire Vehicles

• K9 Demonstration

• Burlington County Sheriff

• NJ Transit Police

• Jumani on the Big Screen

• Free Popcorn Courtesy of the Riverside Historical Society

• Inflatable Obstacle Course Racer

• Sports Moon Bounce

• Play Trivia to Win a Ring 2 Video Doorbell System

• UPS Tractor Trailer Demonstration

• Face Painting and Craft by Riverlution

• Carucci Turtle Garden Display

• The Following Food Vendors will Have Items for Sale: 

• The Madison

• Wahlburgers
• Mr. Softee

• 
  

Riverside Sergeant Completes Prestigious Leadership Program

Congratulations to Sgt. Ron Brock on his graduation from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Command and Leadership Program!  Sgt. Brock attended the intense 14 week program in New Castle County, Delaware.  The training focuses on conflict management, critical thinking, communications, counseling, decision making, and leadership science.

The program has been in existence since 1993 when members of NJSACOP collaborated with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, to develop future police leaders. Candidates for the program are required to commit considerable personal time and energy to pass this demanding course.  Sgt. Brock graduated 3^rd overall in his class.

Swerving Warning

In light of recent complaints, the Township of Riverside has adopted a zero tolerance policy when dealing with these incidents.  If juveniles are observed "swerving" in Riverside Township, they will be taken into protective custody and transported to the Riverside Township Police Department.


A parent or legal guardian will be contacted and the juvenile will not be released until they are signed for.  The juvenile will then be charged with the following statute:  2C:33-14 Interference with Transportation.  The juvenile can also be charged with numerous NJ motor vehicle statutes, such as:

• 39:4-10.5 Helmet required
• 39:4-12 Carrying more than one person
• 39:4-14.2 Operation of bicycle on a roadway in violation of traffic laws.
• 39:4-10.2 Violation;  penalties states:
• "The parent or guardian of that person also may be fined a maximum of $25 for the firs offense, and a maximum of $100 for any subsequent offense if it can be shown that a parent or guardian failed to exercise reasonable supervision or control over the persons conduct."

The members of the Riverside Township Police Department are requesting the public's assistance to end this dangerous practice.  If you see this occurring, DO NOT CONTACT ANYONE OTHER THAN THE POLICE.  DO NOT MAKE POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA HOPING THE POLICE WILL SEE IT AND TAKE ACTION.  WE DO NOT AN CANNOT MONITOR SOCIAL MEDIA ON A 24 HOUR BASIS.

Please contact 856-461-3434(Burlington County Central Dispatch), or call 911 if it is an immediate emergency.

Thank you,

William T. Eliason

Chief of Police

Riverside Township

Riverside Police Explorers Win at State Competition

       On June 1^st, the Riverside Police Explorers attended the 2018 New Jersey Police Explorer Competition. The annual event is held at Stockton University over a 3 day period.  While there, Explorers live on campus and compete against other Explorer posts from across the state. This year, 15 of New Jersey's top Police Explorer posts attended the event. The students learned about criminal justice from Stockton University professors and various experts in the law enforcement field. They also compete in multiple events and police scenarios including Physical Fitness Drills, Traffic Stops, Building Searches, Domestic Violence, Active Shooter, Burglaries and other team competitions. 

     This year Riverside Police Explorers Cpt. Alexa Ingram , Lt. Rick Loveland, Sgt. Jacob Arocho, Sgt. Zach DiFrancesco, Sgt. Cole Cerchiaro and Gavin Martinez tested their skills against other elite Explorers. We are proud to announce that Riverside Post #70 took first place in the Domestic Violence Scenario, Alexa Ingram finished 4^th for physical fitness among the female attendees and Riverside Explorers were selected as part of the "Best Platoon" award for the entire event. We are very proud of these outstanding  members of our community and hope to see them succeed as future leaders.

         The Riverside Police Explorers Post #70 is an organization that learns and experiences different aspects of law enforcement under the supervision and guidance of members of the Riverside Police Department. Although they have no law enforcement authority, they often augment the Police Department by assisting with community related functions. The Explorers Program is open to youths of Burlington County between the ages of 14 and 18, many of whom have a desire to pursue a career in law enforcement. The activities of the Explorers include, but are not limited to training, ride alongs, and community service. If you or someone you know would like information about joining the Riverside Police Explorers Program, please contact acicali@riversidepolicenj.org

Riverside Memorial Day Parade

Riverside Township Residents,  

On Monday 5/28/18 the annual Riverside Memorial Day Parade will take place to honor our Veterans that made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for their county. With that in mind I would like to pass along the following Parade Route information. The parade will begin promptly at 0930 and road closures will begin at 0900 on May 29, 2017. “No Parking Signs” will be posted on Saturday evening May 26, 2018 and all vehicles that remain parked on the Parade Route after 0800 on May 28, 2018 will be ticketed and towed at the owners’ expense. Please ensure your vehicles are not parked on the below listed parade route.

The following roads will be closed during the course of the parade and will remain closed until the parade has been completed:

1)      Pavilion Avenue from Lafeyette St. to Fairview St.
2)      Scott St. from Fairview St. to Bridigeboro St.
3)      Bridgeboro St. from Henry St. to Scott St.
4)      Palmer St. and Dauphin St. 3 blocks prior to Bridgeboro St.
5)      All side access streets leading onto Bridgeboro St., Scott St. and Pavilion
         Avenue..

Please come out and join us in honoring our Military Service Members, past and present.  Thank You in advance for your cooperation and have a safe Memorial Day weekend.    

If any changes are made to the parade schedule due to weather, we will share them on our Facebook page as soon as we are made aware of them.

William T. Eliason
Chief of Police
Riverside Township

A New Way to Access Riverside's T.I.P. (Treatment Incentive Program)

Accessing Riverside's T.I.P. (Treatment Incentive Program) just became easier.  Persons with substance abuse disorders and that have pending criminal charges may be eligible for the T.I.P.  The Treatment Incentive Program is a long term treatment and recovery program requiring a minimum of 18 months treatment in most cases.  Those requesting help can now fill out an Assistance Request Form online.

ASSISTANCE REQUEST FORM

Wanted Person Found Hiding in Crawl Space

On 2/10/18, Leroy "June" McNeil, Jr, 30 yrs, of Philadelphia, was charged with Aggravated Assault within the Township of Riverside.  He has been listed as an NCIC WANTED PERSON since that incident. 

On 5/11/18 at 3pm, the Riverside Police received a tip from a resident that McNeil was in the area of Delaware Avenue.  When police checked the area, they located him and attempted to stop him.  When McNeil saw police approaching, he took off on foot.  After speaking with several witnesses, McNeil was located hiding in a 2 foot crawl space at the rear portion of a residence on Delaware Avenue.  After several minutes, he was taken into police custody.  Officers from Delran Police Department assisted in the search. 

During processing, McNeil yelled and cursed at officers and challenged officers to fight him.  While screaming at officers, he intentionally spit saliva on the holding cell floor and at a surveillance camera.  He also intentionally urinated on the holding cell wall and floor. 

McNeil was lodged at the Burlington County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.  McNeil faces criminal charges of: 

Aggravated Assault

Resisting Arrest by Flight

Obstructing the Administration of Law

Criminal Mischief

Leroy McNeil, Jr  30 years

Riverside High School Drives Safe

If you have driven down Washington St. lately you may have noticed something strange on the Riverside High School front lawn. It’s a vehicle that has been involved in a motor vehicle accident. This “crash car”  was donated by Lenny’s Towing and was placed there with a banner that reads #DrinkDriveDie. It serves as a constant reminder for students during prom season that alcohol and driving don’t mix.

 Riverside High School competes annually in a safe driving competition called “Jersey Drives."  Each school that is accepted receives a small grant to produce a safe driving environment in their town and school district. The project is mostly run by the Riverside Police Explorers, but all students are encouraged to participate. This year the students produced a short PSA film directed by Mario Cerrito about how Riverside High School is making an impact in our township and provided safe driving tips for other teens as well.  View the short film here:  RHS Drives Safe Video

The film was debuted today during a Riverside Prom Assembly. SRO. Anthony Cicali hosts the annual assembly to encourage safe driving among new drivers. This year, retired NJ State Police Trooper Carsten Boethig was invited to give a “Teen Driver Safety Program” presentation to the students attending the prom. Thanks to Ret. Tpr. Boethig  and NJ Manufacturers Insurance, we are able to present this assembly at no cost.  RHS has been involved with this safe driving  program for over 3 years now. Thanks to ongoing police traffic enforcement and implementing this program, Riverside Township has seen a reduction in motor vehicle accidents in the community.

Arrestee Assaults and Threatens to Murder Officers

On 5/1/18 Riverside Police responded to a disturbance on Bridgeboro Street at 11:17 pm.  Police encountered Kevin A. Lynch, 41 of Riverside at the scene.  Mr. Lynch provided police with a name and date of birth that was not his.  His true identity was discovered and officers determined he was listed in NCIC as a wanted person with arrest warrants from other jurisdictions as well. 

Mr. Lynch was taken into custody.  While in custody, Mr. Lynch repeatedly made death threats toward the officers and struck an officer during processing.  Mr. Lynch was charged with multiple offenses including Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and Terroristic Threats.  No officers sustained injury.  Mr. Lynch was lodged in Burlington County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Kevin A. Lynch, 41 

2017 Annual Report Released

Click Here

Alert Resident's Call Leads to Arrest of Burglary Suspect

On 4/18/18 at approximately 1:48 pm Riverside Police received a report of a suspicious person on Clay St.  We then received a call from a resident reporting an unknown male had entered the callers enclosed porch and attempted to steal items.  Police immediately responded and searched the area.  Police located the suspect hiding in a fenced in yard. 

After a brief investigation the male was taken into custody and charged with two counts of trespassing and one count of burglary.  The suspect,  Jamil R. Henderson,  29 of Burlington, was processed and lodged in Burlington County Jail.  While in custody it was determined he was also wanted by Camden County Probation. 

Jamil R. Henderson, 29 of Burlington

Wanted Person from Pennsylvania Arrested

Suspect Found to be in Possession of Heroin and Marijuana

On 4/14/18 at 1833hrs, while on pro-active patrol, the Riverside Police observed a male subject riding a bike near the downtown area and into one of our residential neighborhoods.  He was recognized by officers as Bryan J. Montgomery, 36 years, of Mt. Holly, NJ.  The officers knew Montgomery to have an active arrest warrant out of Riverside Township Court.  Montgomery was stopped by a Riverside Twp officer and his identity was confirmed.  A check to confirm warrants not only disclosed a local arrest warrant, but it was also discovered that Montgomery was a WANTED PERSON out of Bucks County, Pennsylvania for Felony Possession of Narcotics.  When he was taken into custody on the warrants, Montgomery was found to be in possession of heroin and marijuana.  He was transported to the Riverside Police Department where he was charged with Possession of CDS – Heroin, Possession of CDS – Marijuana and charged as a “Fugitive from Justice” on the warrant out of Bucks County Sheriff’s Department in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.  Montgomery was lodged at the Burlington County Correctional Facility where he is awaiting a detention hearing and extradition to Pennsylvania. 

Bryan J. Montgomery

Riverside Enacts No Knock/No Soliciting Ordinance

Riverside Residents,

In an effort to address the complaints made by our residents regarding unwanted solicitations by private contractors, the Township of Riverside has passed Local Ordinance 2017-14, titled "No Knock List".

This Ordinance will afford Riverside Residents the opportunity to advise unwanted solicitors that their presence is violating a Township Ordinance.

This will also ensure that solicitors have a list of properties withing Riverside Township that are registered as, "No Knock" residences.

The procedure for obtaining the stickers will be as follows:

1) The "No Knock" stickers will be obtained at the Riverside Township Police Station between the hours of 9:30 am and 1:30 pm from the Riverside Township Police Clerk.

2) If you are unavailable to get to the police station during those hours, you can e-mail Police Clerk Mildred Abriola at mabriola@riversidepolicenj.org. When you e-mail our Police Clerk you must provide your name, address, and telephone number. Our clerk will mail the sticker to a Riverside address only.

3) The initial "No Knock" sticker is provided at no cost. If a second or subsequent sticker is requested for the same address, a fee of $5.00 per sticker will be imposed.

4) The addresses of our residents that request the "No Knock" stickers will be kept on file and distributed to the Township Administrative Offices on a monthly basis. The Township Administrative Offices will in turn keep a master file that will be provided to all businesses that request a Solicitation Permit to operate and solicit in Riverside Township. If a business/solicitor violates the Township "No Knock" Ordinance #2017-14, they will be issued a summons for the violation. The summons will have a mandatory court appearance and may be subject to a fine of $1,000 for each violation.
In accordance with Local Ordinance 201-5, the restriction of the "No Knock" Ordinance shall not pertain to persons soliciting for a "charitable, religious, patriotic or philanthropic purpose."
We hope this will limit the amount of unwanted solicitation in Riverside Township.
Please keep in mind that our Officers may not see the solicitors while they are in the Township, so if you observe anyone soliciting please contact Burlington County Central Dispatch at (856)461-3434 and report the incident. Please do not call the main police number (856)461-8820 as we do not have someone answering that phone number at all times.
If anyone has a question, I can be reached at: weliason@riversidepolicenj.org.

Thank you,

William T. Eliason
Chief of Police

Patrolman Kevin Joo Assigned to Detective Bureau

Tonight, Patrolman Kevin Joo was sworn in as Detective at Riverside's Township Meeting.  Detective Joo has been with the Riverside Police Department since 2014, and was our 2017 Officer of the Year. We wish Detective Joo the best of luck and continued success as he begins his position in the Detective Bureau!