Police: Woman Burglarized Ex-Husband's Home

Wyckoff police recorded the following arrests recently:

• A Wyckoff woman and an acquaintance were arrested and charged with burglary and theft after police said they were found removing items from the home of the woman's deceased ex-husband.

Police said they were called to 401 Huntington Court on Sept. 30 by the siblings of the homeowner, Michael Alex, who was found dead in his home on Sept. 29. There, they said they found Denise Alex, 42, of Barrett Lane and Neil C. Dickson, 29, of Manhattan. The siblings, who are California residents, were in town to handle funeral arrangements and said they arrived at the home to find two men who they did not know.

Patrolmen William Plisich and Terry Murphy responded and said one of the men was a locksmith hired by Denise Alex to change the locks, and the other was Dickson. An investigation by Detective Sgt. Joseph Soto and Det. Michael Musto revealed that Denise Alex had no legal right to the home or its contents, said police, who allege that Dickson had been trying to take sports memorabilia from the home and was in possession of collectible figurines and drug prescription information for Michael Alex. Police also said that computers, suits and financial records are thought to have been taken from the home.

Both Denise Alex and Dickson were charged on criminal complaints of burglary and theft, and Dickson also was charged with providing false information to a police officer after the responding patrolmen said he gave them a fictitious residence. Both were released on $10,000 bail each, and the complaints have been referred to Superior Court.

• A Wyckoff woman was assaulted by her husband on Tuesday, police said.

Authorities had been called to Aquarius Door Service, 681 Lawlins Road, to investigate a skirmish between a separated couple. Police said the husband punched the Wyckoff woman in the face and then fled. However, police located him on Franklin Avenue, and he was arrested and charged with assault. Detective Sgt. Soto, Musto, Lt. Charles Van Dyk, Lt. David Murphy and Patrolman Andrew Poremba investigated.

• A Wyckoff teen was charged with criminal mischief on Sunday after police said he was caught spray-painting a storage trailer at Lincoln School.

While off-duty, Patrolman Brian Zivkovich said he saw the teen defacing the trailer before fleeing with two other teens. Zivkovich contacted headquarters, and Patrolman Michael DeMaio found the boys at the intersection of Godwin and Greenwood avenues. 

The 14-year-old teen was charged on a juvenile complaint, and all three were released to their parents.

• A Ramsey woman was charged with driving while intoxicated after a traffic stop Oct. 2 on Wyckoff Avenue.

Police said Shannon B. McPartland, 33, was observed driving erratically, which prompted the motor vehicle stop. After an investigation, she was charged with DWI, failure to keep right, failure to maintain her lane and reckless driving.

McPartland was released to a family member and is scheduled to appear in Municipal Court on Nov. 5.

• A Camelot Court homeowner reported to police on Oct. 1 that someone had tried to break into a car in the driveway.

The resident's car had been left unlocked, and police arrived to find the car with the front door hanging open. Authorities were unsuccessful in their efforts to locate the suspect, who was chased off by the homeowner.

Chief Benjamin Fox reminds residents to lock their cars and conceal or remove items of value, as cars left unlocked are periodically targeted at night by thieves.

• A Fair Lawn man was charged with driving while intoxicated after a traffic accident Sept. 24 on Godwin Avenue.

Police said a two-car crash occurred that evening when a vehicle driven by Jacob M. Blatt, 60, crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a motorist. There were no injuries to either driver.

An investigation led police to charge Blatt with DWI, failure to keep right and reckless driving. He was released to his wife and will appear in Municipal Court.