POLICE K-9’S ASSIST IN NUMEROUS ARRESTS MADE THIS WEEK IN FRANKLIN TWP.
(Gloucester County, NJ) Press Release from Franklin Twp. PD
On Monday, April 10th at 3:33 pm, Franklin Twp Police officer Michael Guzman was on patrol in the area of Porchtown and Leonard Cake Roads when he conducted a motor vehicle stop on a 2008 Ford Wagon being driven by Kyle Bernat age 27 of Franklinville. Bernat originally provided the officer with false information to hide his identity. After further investigation, it was revealed that Bernat had a Superior Court warrant out of Cumberland County for his arrest. Bernat was placed under arrest for the outstanding warrant. Further investigation and a positive K-9 indication on the vehicle by Officer Guzman’s partner, Rozo, revealed a large amount of illegal narcotics inside the vehicle. Officer Guzman seized over one ounce of suspected crack cocaine, five ounces of marijuana packaged for resale, suspected heroin and LSD along with a large amount of cash. Bernat was charged with hindering apprehension as well as distribution and possession of crack cocaine, heroin and marijuana and was lodged in the Salem County Correctional facility on his charges.
On Wednesday, April 12th at 1:03 am, Franklin police officer Thomas Rambone was on patrol in the area of Harding Highway (Roue 40) and Main Road when he observed a dirt bike traveling on Main Road at a high rate of speed. The dirt bike was being followed by a 2013 Hyundai sedan with Ohio registration. Acting on information of recent dirt bike thefts in the area, Officer Rambone attempted to stop both vehicles to investigate. The dirt bike fled the area and Rambone attempted to stop the sedan on Harding Highway just into Buena borough.
Officer Rambone approached the vehicle which was occupied by four males. The occupants provided conflicting travel stories and a Franklin Township K-9 indication by Officer Josh Fennimore and his partner, Lee, the vehicle was searched and police seized a loaded and defaced 9mm handgun. The handgun had a 17 round capacity and officers also located an additional magazine that was loaded with 31 rounds of ammunition.
A front seat passenger identified as Christian Figueroa, age 21 of Galloway Township was arrested and charged with the following offenses: Unlawful possession of a handgun, certain persons not to possess weapons and possession of a defaced firearm. Figueroa was lodged in the Salem County Correctional Facility on his charges.
On Thursday, April 13th at 9:07 am, Franklin Township patrol was dispatched to the 600 block of Star Avenue for a suspicious male who was driving a fire truck around the neighborhood. Officer Larry Holdcraft located the vehicle on Star Avenue and was able to identify the occupant as William Henderson, age 53 of Bellmawr. Henderson was located with a 1987 Pierce Fire Engine registered to a fire department in Ocean County, NJ. Fire officials were contacted and revealed that the vehicle had been sold several months ago, however they had received numerous complaints regarding this truck still being operated throughout South Jersey. Henderson was found to have an active Superior Court warrant out of Gloucester County and was placed under arrest. Further investigation led Franklin Twp. Police to call Officer Joshua Fennimore and his K9 partner, Lee to the scene. After a positive K9 indication was obtained, the vehicle was searched and police located 39 bags of suspected crack cocaine packaged for resale. Henderson was charged with Possession and Distribution of Crack Cocaine. Henderson was lodged in the Salem County Correctional Facility on his charges.
“I want to commend our police officers for their hard work and dedication in ridding our streets of illegal narcotics and weapons,” said Franklin Twp. Deputy Chief Matt DeCesari. “This type of activity has no place in our community and we will continue to work diligently to keep the streets of Franklin Township, and the Boroughs of Buena and Newfield safe.”