Hopewell Police Blotter: Bistro Brawl, Stonybrook Golf Club Burglary, Columbia Avenue Crash

The driver of a 1997 Volkswagen allegedly struck a concrete pole on Columbia Avenue in Hopewell Boro just before 10 p.m. on Jan. 1 and left the scene, police said. Driver Jacinto Chinguil of Hopewell Boro was located nearby and police noticed the smell of alcohol on his breath. After roadside field sobriety testing, he was placed under arrest and  transported to police headquarters, where he was processed and released to a friend.  Chinguil, 30, was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, being an unlicensed  driver, driving an uninsured vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident, failure to observe a traffic signal, driving on a sidewalk, three counts of failure to produce documents, and other violations.

A former employee of the Stonybrook Golf Club was charged with burglary and theft on Dec. 29
after an investigation found that he allegedly entered the Stonybrook Golf Club buildings and took a television, tools and apparel on multiple occasions in December. After processing at police headquarters, Brent Brelsford, 46, was transported to the Mercer County Correction Center to await extradition to Pennsylvania on an unrelated charge. His case is being forwarded to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

On. Jan. 8, a fight broke out at the Patriots Crossing New American Bistro on Route 29 just before midnight. Upon their arrival at the restaurant, police officers observed an injured man in the parking lot who was later identified as John McDermott, 23, of New Hope, Pa. According to McDermott’s friend, Joshua Simon of Washington Crossing, Pa., someone had punched and knocked out McDermott in the bistro. Police said McDermott and Simon appeared intoxicated and became uncooperative regarding the circumstances of the assault. Police said during the investigation, Simon, 22, became belligerent and started to interfere with the medical attention being given to McDermott. Simon was placed under arrest for an outstanding traffic warrant out of Wall Township. McDermott refused further medical care and became belligerent towards a police officer. He was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct after he attempted to enter a police car multiple times. While police officers were placing McDermott in a patrol car, the sister of Simon, Lauren Simon, 24, of Newtown, Pa., also became belligerent with officers and refused to back away from McDermott and the officers as they attempted to place McDermott in the patrol car. She was then placed under arrest for disorderly conduct as well. All three were processed and later released. Their cases will be heard in municipal court. The investigation into the original assault report is ongoing.

A police officer stopped a 2012 Honda on Route 31 near Rt 612 for allegedly driving 62 miles per hour in a 40-miles-per hour zone at 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 2.  The driver, James P. Nelson, 28, of Philadelphia, had warrants out for his arrest from Mays Landing and Mount Laurel. He was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. He was released after being processed and cited for speeding. His cases will be heard in municipal court.

On Jan. 5, a police officer stopped a 2006 Nissan on  Harbourton Rocktown Road near Harbourton Mt. Airy Road just after 9 p.m. for driving with a non-functioning headlamp. The driver,  Joseph P. Cannon, 30, of Bensalem, Pa. had warrants out for his arrest from Rutherford. He was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters, where he was processed and turned over to the custody of the Rutherford Police Department after being cited for driving
while suspended and having an non-functioning headlamp. His cases will be heard in
municipal court.