Sparta Police

July 14 Ptl, Joseph Antonello was on routine patrol on Rt. 15, when he observed a blue Oldsmobile operating in an erratic manner, After an initial investigation the driver Eric Schmidt, age 25, of Lake Ariel PA was arrested along with the passenger Phillip Merring, age 31, of Hawley PA. Schmidt was charged with cocaine in a motor vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintenance of lamps and careless driving. Merring was charged with possession of cocaine, a hypodermic syringe and drug paraphernalia. An outstanding arrest warrant was found for Merring out of West Orange for $2500.00. He was turned over to the West Orange Police Department. Schmidt was released pending required court appearances. Patrols were dispatched to check a report of a disturbance near Lake Grinnel. They encounterd a large group of individuals, when approaching, a green Mercury began driving towards them. The driver David Harris, age 21, of Sparta was arrested for DWI. He was transported to the police department for processing. He was additionally charged with careless driving. He was later released pending a municipal court appearance. The investigation of the group continued with the arrest of Bryant Coe, age 21, of Sparta , Aaren Snook, age 27, of Newton and Stephen Giammanco, age 27, of Sparta. Coe, . Snook and Giammanco was charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana. All were released pending municipal court appearances. July 15 Sgt Neil Spidaletto was on routine patrol on Blue Heron Road, when he observed a white Nissan with one of its lamps out. The driver Lee Gutman, age 20, of Rockaway Park N.Y. was arrested for DWI. He was transported to the police department for processing. He was additionally charged with careless driving and failure to maintain lamps. The front seat passenger Daniel Foxman, age 22, of Brooklyn was charged with allowing an intoxicated person to operate a vehicle. Both individuals were released pending a court appearances. July 17 Sgt. Jeff Mase was on routine patrol when he checked a vehicle parked in the middle of Signal Hill Trail. The driver, Christopher Baran, age 30, of Lake Hopatcong. was standing near the vehicle. Batan was arrested for DWI and transported to the polcie department for processing. He was additionally charged with careless driving, obstructing/interfering with the passage of other vehicles and failure to exhibit documents. He was released pending a required court appearance.