Police Blotter: Cocaine Possession; Intoxicated Women Drives Car Onto Homeowner’s Property, Tries to Flee

Intoxicated Woman Drives Car Onto Property, Accuses Homeowner of Stealing Her License

On April 17 at 9:25 p.m., a police officer responded to an call at 4608 Florida Ave. The officer eventually arrested Providencia Santiago-Mejias, 44, of Clifton Heights, for driving under the influence. 

According to the police report, the officer arrived on the scene at 4608 Florida Ave. to find homeowner John Czarnecki following Santiago-Mejias out of his driveway and onto the roadway. Czarnecki told the officer that Santiago-Mejias was trying to get away, so the officer stopped Santiago-Mejias and asked Czarnecki what happened.

According to the police report, Czarnecki said he had heard noise in his backyard and observed that a gold 2000 Ford Taurus station wagon had driven down his driveway and become lodged in the small space between his house and his garage, located 50 feet from the roadway.  It appeared to Czarnecki that for an unknown reason, Santiago-Mejias had turned into his driveway, then drove around the house toward the garage.

Santiago-Mejias then allegedly drove between the house and the garage, but the car became stuck between the two structures. Instead of reversing out of the turn, Santiago-Mejias continued driving forward, further jamming the car into the small space, according to the police report.

According to the police report, when the officer asked Santiago-Mejias to produce her license, vehicle registration and car insurance, Santiago allegedly produced a red Visa credit card and yelled, “That dude [Czarnecki] stole my license!”

According to the police report, the officer could smell alcohol on her breath and decided it was obvious that she was under the influence and could not safely operate her vehicle. Santiago was placed under arrest.

Man Taken Into Custody for Cocaine Possession

A Newtown patrolman stopped a small blue Chevrolet due to an expired sticker on Chapel Road near Route 252 at 11:07 p.m. on April 19. The driver identified himself as Robert W. Hall and said he did not have his license on him.

According to the police report, the officer found that Hall had an expired and suspended Pennsylvania license for a DUI-related matter, and after further checking, discovered an active warrant for the driver’s arrest for cocaine possession in the state of Florida.

The driver was asked to step from the vehicle. Hall allegedly said he did not have identification on him, nor was the car his.

The officer informed Hall of the warrant for his arrest and the suspended status of his license, and Hall claimed to have no knowledge of either. When asked, Hall said he had nothing illegal in the vehicle and gave consent for the vehicle to be searched, according to the police report.

The officer saw in plain view a glass tube with burn marks on it, sitting next to a box of Newport cigarettes. The officer opened the box of cigarettes and found nine green plastic ziplock bags containing a white powdery substance the officer suspected to be cocaine, according to the police report.

Hall was placed into custody for possession of a controlled substance and transported back to the police station for processing and lodging.

A lab test conducted on the substance tested positive for cocaine, according to the police report.