Sparta Police

October 24 At 11:31 a.m., Sparta Police Officer Marc Rubino stopped a vehicle on Woodport Road for an expired inspection sticker. Further investigation resulted in the arrest of the driver, Kevin Murphy, 39, of Glasser. He has been charged with careless driving, driving while intoxicated, and consuming alcohol in a vehicle. He was later released. October 26 At 12:10 a.m., Officer Frank Schomp responded to Route 15 near the Sparta Junction to look for a vehicle that was reported as being operated by an intoxicated driver. The officer stopped the vehicle after observing it traveling north at a high rate of speed. Further investigation resulted in the arrest of the driver, Cheryl Norman, 19, of Pompton Lakes. She has been charged with speeding, failing to keep right, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated, , possession of a controlled and dangerous substance in a vehicle, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, She was later released. October 27 At 8:12 a.m., the construction crew working on Sparta Avenue struck a gas line in front of Washington Mutual Bank causing the street from Sparta Burger King to Sparta First Aid Squad Building to be evacuated and traffic detoured. The Sparta Police, fire department and first aid squad responded to the scene. Elizabeth Town Gas shut off the main and corrected the problem. Sparta Avenue was reopened at 9:40 a.m.