Sparta Police

The Sparta Police Department arrested Esmarliz Rivas, 19, of Paterson, Bryan Rivas, 18, of Elmwood Park and a 17-year-old from Hardyston Township for a series of over 35 car burglaries that took place in early July in Sparta Township, Hardyston Township, Hamburg Borough, Vernon Township and Byram. The three suspects would enter unlocked vehicles during the early morning hours and remove wallets, cameras, Ipods and laptop computers. Investigation into the incidents by the detectives revealed that some of the stolen credit cards were being used in the Franklin Borough Walmart and the Franklin Quick Check. On Friday Aug. 11 one of the suspects was identified by a Walmart employee inside the store. The Franklin and Sparta police departments responded and arrested Rivas and Rivas for fraudulent use of a stolen credit card. Further investigation by Detectives from Sparta and Hardyston townships uncovered that the suspects were involved in the vehicle burglaries. Harydston Township detectives then executed a search warrant on the 17-year-old juvenile in relation to this case. Rivas was charged by the Sparta Township Police Department with 18 counts of burglary and theft and lodged in the Sussex County jail on $32,000 bail. The 17-year-old juvenile was also charged with 18 counts of burglary and theft and lodged in the Sussex County juvenile detention. Rivas was charged by the Hardyston Township Police Department and released. August 17 At 11:21 a.m., Detective Marc Rubino observed a vehicle traveling northbound on State Highway Route 15, with a front passenger smoking a marijuana cigarette. Patrolman Joseph Antonello stopped the vehicle. Further investigation resulted in the arrest of Adrian Galicia, 19, of Dover. He was charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released pending a mandatory court appearance in Sparta.