Madison Police Make Another Drug-Related Arrest at Drew University

Police were busy last week with several drug arrests, as well as theft charges and break-ins involving vending machines.

Also on Dec. 10, at 9:54 p.m., Ptl. Matthew Mirabella arrested 19-year-old Kenny Nelson of Jersey City and charged him with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within a school zone, and possession of narcotic paraphernalia. Mirabella was contacted by a  Public Safety Officer Lt. Fabio Lamanna, who had stopped Nelson for acting suspicious in the woods on Drew’s campus. LaManna determined that Nelson was in possession of a large amount of marijuana. He was taken to headquarters for processing and released pending a mandatory court appearance. Ptl. McCarthy assisted with the arrest.

On Dec. 10 at approximately 2:19 a.m., Det. Sean Plumstead arrested 41-year-old Michael Tyrone of Madison and charged him with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Plumstead was assisting with in front of 99 Park Ave. and was advised the driver who left the scene was Carlton Yost of 27 South Street, Madison. Tyrone was found to be in possession of CDS when officers went to his residence looking for Yost who resides there with him. While conducting a field investigation at that location, police said, Plumstead determined that Tyrone was in allegedly in possession of marijuana and narcotic paraphernalia. He was taken to headquarters for processing, where a computer check found an arrest warrant issued by Union County Superior Court for failure to appear. Tyrone was released to Union County authorities pending a mandatory court appearance in Madison Municipal Court. Ptl. McCarthy assisted with the arrest.

On Dec. 7 at 6 p.m., Det. Paul Kosakowski arrested 29-year-old Mark Piacenza of Bloomfield and charged him with criminal mischief and theft from a vending machine located at , 267 Main Street. Kosakowski initially started an investigation in April after receiving a report from the owner that an outside vending machine had broken into. After an eight-month investigation, Piacenza was apprehended by the Newark Police Department on other criminal violations. He was taken to Madison Police Headquarters for processing and released after posting $5,000 bail pending a mandatory court appearance. Madison Sgt. John Miscia assisted with the investigation.

On Dec. 6 at 11:45 a.m., Det. Plumstead arrested 19-year-old Robert Hamm of Madison and charged him with possession of stolen property. Plumstead initially received a report from , 255 Main Street, that a computer was stolen from an office at that location. Hamm works at the animal hospital and it was learned through investigation that he was in possession of the computer. At this point it appears he acted alone. but did not disclose further details. He was taken to headquarters for processing and released pending a mandatory court appearance. The computer was recovered. Det. Edward Mitchko assisted with the investigation.

The Madison Police Department, , and responded to 13 medical emergencies. The police investigated nine motor vehicle crashes during the week.