02/03/2026 Police Blotter

Item 1
Date: 01/15/2026 Time: 11:03 AM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Fraud
Investigating Officer: James Klesney
Details: On 01/15/2026 Officer Klesney responded to HTPD for a walk-in report of fraud. Victim reported receiving E-Zpass toll charges totaling $104.85 for a vehicle that was not hers. E-Zpass images showed her license plate on another vehicle, though she confirmed both plates were still in her possession. The victim obtained new plates from DMV, and the original plates were entered as stolen in NCIC. The incident remains under investigation.

Item 2
Date: 01/17/2026 Time: 14:34 PM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Theft/Theft of Identity
Investigating Officer: Mandy Grey
Details: On 01/17/2026 Officer Grey responded to HTPD for a walk-in report of theft/fraud. Victim reported while in the process of applying for a loan, her Equifax credit report showed a fraudulent Verizon wireless account with an outstanding balance of
$3,838.00. The account was opened in her name on January 10, 2025, using an unknown P.O. Box in Texas. The incident remains under investigation.

Item 3
Date: 01/19/2026 Time: 12:39 PM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Fraud
Investigating Officer: Marissa McCallum
Details: On 01/19/2026 Officer McCallum responded to a residence in Pennington for a report of fraud. Victim reported an unauthorized target order placed through an online chat with a Target representative. The delivery address was changed to a hotel. The order contained two flat irons and two sets of baby clothing totaling $75.03 and was delivered. The incident remains under investigation.

Item 4
Date: 01/20/2026 Time: 10:40 AM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Theft
Investigating Officer: Collin Brigham
Details: On 01/20/2026 Officer Brigham responded to a construction site on Carter Rd for a report of theft. The job site superintendent reported copper pipes were stolen from a construction site, possibly on January 19th. The estimated value of stolen items is $800.00. No security cameras were on site. The incident remains under investigation.

Item 5
Date: 01/20/2026 Time: 11:01 AM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Commercial structure fire
Investigating Officer: Tylor Blake
Details: On 01/20/2026 Officer Blake responded to a landscaping business located on Reed Rd for a structure fire. Commercial building sustained fire damage. The fire was investigated by Fire Department and determined to be accidental in nature.

Item 6
Date: 01/20/2026 Time: 02:23 PM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Identity theft
Investigating Officer: Ryan Finnegan
Details: On 01/20/2026 Officer dispatched to HTPD for a report of identity theft. Victim reported two T-Mobile phone lines and cell phones were fraudulently opened in his name. He also reported a fraudulent charge for $250.00 which was disputed and reported this incident as fraud. The incident remains under investigation.

Item 7
Date: 01/23/2026 Time: 09:24 AM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Stolen vehicle/ Receiving stolen property
Investigating Officer: Collin Brigham
Details: On 01/23/2026 Officer Brigham responded to St Peter Lutheran Church for a report of a possible stolen vehicle. The manager of a day care at the church reported a suspicious male on the property who stated he had stolen a vehicle. Upon arrival, patrol officers made contact with the male and confirmed the vehicle he was operating was entered as stolen in NCIC from Irvington NJ. Following further investigation, the male admitted to stealing the vehicle and was placed under arrest. He was transported to HTPD, processed and charged. The matter was transferred to Irvington PD for further investigation. The male was later released from custody.

Item 8
Date: 01/23/2026 Time: 12:30 PM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: DWI
Accused name: Daniel Kochis
Accused address: Second St, Hopewell Boro, NJ
Investigating Officer: Neil Hunt
Details: On 01/23/2026 Officer Hunt was dispatched to the area of E Broad Street for a report of an intoxicated male in a vehicle. Upon arrival Officer Hunt made contact with a male (Daniel Kochis). During the interaction officer detected an odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from the male and found multiple empty alcoholic beverage bottles and cans in the vehicle. After the on-scene investigation male was transported to the hospital for evaluation and treatment. Kochis was charged with DUI, Reckless Driving. The matter will be heard in Municipal Court.

Item 9
Date: 01/27/2026 Time: 10:38 AM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Burglary/ Criminal Mischief
Investigating Officer: Blake Demeter
Details: On 01/27/2026 Officer Demeter responded to Norco construction located on Carter Rd for a possible burglary. An unknown subject entered the building through a broken window and is believed to have attempted to remove copper piping. On January 27, an employee discovered a broken window on the west side of the building and located a copper pipe outside that had not previously been there. No items were reported stolen. There are no security cameras. The incident remains under investigation.

Item 10
Date: 01/29/2026 Time: 09:59 AM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Identity theft
Investigating Officer: Ryan Finnegan
Details: On 01/29/2026 Officer Finnegan responded to HTPD regarding a report of identity theft. Victim reported two unauthorized charges totaling $2,670.00 after reviewing his credit report. The charges were associated with his Chase Bank account. Victim advised he has not sustained a financial loss. The incident remains under investigation.

Item 11
Date: 01/29/2026 Time: 02:17 PM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Fraud
Investigating Officer: Collin Brigham
Details: On 01/29/2026 Officer Brigham responded to the residence located at Stony Brook Rd for a report of fraud. Victim reported unauthorized use of his Verizon business account. He stated the issue began in August 2025 and recently he received a bill in the amount of $3,084.11. He further advised he was previously charged $2,514.25, which he disputed, and Verizon is issuing a refund. The incident remains under investigation.

Item 12
Date: 01/31/2026 Time: 07:36 PM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: DUI
Accused name: Wenyan Jr Kerman
Accused address: Lower Ferry Rd, Ewing, NJ
Investigating Officer: Anthony Pizzola
Details: On 01/31/2026 Officer Pizzola was conducting his routine patrol. He was approached by two citizens who reported a possibly intoxicated male entering a vehicle. Officer Pizzola subsequently observed the vehicle traveling in the area of Pennigton Rd and a motor vehicle stop was initiated. Officer made contact with the driver Wenyan Jr Kerman. During the interaction officer detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the driver’s person. Field sobriety testing was administered, and it was
determined that Kerman was impaired and was placed under arrest for suspicion of DWI. He was transported to HTPD and processed. Kerman was charged with DUI, Reckless Driving, and Failure to obey signal signs or directions. The matter will be heard in Municipal Court.