---

North Plainfield Police Department

Press Release

Chief William Parenti

June 7, 2010

North Plainfield Police Chief William Parenti announced today that a 26 year old male resident of Plainfield, New Jersey, was arrested after a brief struggle with borough police early Sunday morning.  On Sunday, June 6, shortly after 1:00 am police units responded to a report that a man was seen entering an open garage and a motor vehicle on Meadowbrook Drive.   The caller, an alert Meadowbrook Drive resident, observed the suspect, Malik Ward, enter a garage and then enter a car parked in a neighboring driveway.  He immediately alerted borough police by telephone and gave a description of the suspect and his direction of flight.  Sergeant Chris Bond observed a subject fitting the description on Mountain Avenue and stopped him at the intersection of Willard Place.  Officer Jesus Medina transported the witness to the scene of the stop where he immediately identified the subject as the same person that had had seen enter both the garage and the motor vehicle.      

A short time later, Ward was advised he was under arrest by Sergeant Edward Ciempola and immediately became combative and resisted all efforts to be handcuffed.  Further investigation determined that Ward was in possession of a GPS unit that belonged to a resident of Meadowbrook Drive. Later at Police Head Quarters, Detective Alan McKay obtained a statement of admission from   Malik Ward. The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office authorized a third degree burglary charge and Ward was remanded to the Somerset County Jail in lieu of $50,000.00 bail. The investigation is active and ongoing at this time.  Anyone with any information is urged to contact Detective Alan McKay at: (908)769-2937.  Chief Parenti said: “this is an excellent example of the Community/Police partnership; the residents are our eyes and ears.  In this case the resident’s rapid notification to police of something suspicious, resulted in an immediate apprehension for a crime that has become all too common these days.  Again I urge residents to always call us when something appears unusual and to properly secure their homes, and vehicles.  And please don’t leave GPS units and Ipods in plain view in their cars.”         

Note:  We are required by the Rules of Court to include herein a statement explaining that the charges are merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.