East Windsor Blotter: Drunken Driving, Robbery, and Burglary

Driving While Intoxicated Charge for Holmdel Man

Vibhay Bhatnagar, 62, of Holmdel, NJ, was arrested for driving while intoxicated, careless driving, reckless driving, and failure to maintain lane on Dec. 16 after police reportedly observed him driving west on Route 33 in an erratic manner.

Patrol Officer Matthew Flynn stopped Bhatnagar’s vehicle at 1:33 a.m. and found him to have an odor of an alcoholic beverage, police said. His eyes were reportedly bloodshot and watery, and Bhatnagar was given field sobriety tests.  He was arrested for DWI and later released pending court action.

Robbery at Target

Cecilio Ortiz, 59, of The Orchard, was arrested for robbery and shoplifting at the East Windsor Target on Dec. 19.

Police responded to Target at 12:49 p.m. for a report of a shoplifter, who had stolen two iPods worth approximately $400 and left the store.  Store personnel further reported that when the loss prevention officer attempted to stop the suspect, the suspect struggled with the officer and fled the scene in a vehicle.

Detective Ryan Mattek located the vehicle along with Ortiz at an address in The Orchard.  Ortiz was arrested and later released pending court action after posting bail.

Burglary at Crock-A-Deli

Police responded to an activated burglar alarm at the Crock-A Deli restaurant on Old Cranbury Road at approximately 9:43 p.m. on Dec. 19. 

Upon arrival, police discovered that the front door to the business had been forcibly opened.  The store owner indicated that approximately $1,300 in cash had been stolen.  The incident is currently under investigation.

Obstructing Justice at the American Legion

Paul Urgiles-Ortiz, 19, and Rafael Urgiles-Ortiz, 24, both of Hightstown, were arrested on Dec. 23 for disorderly conduct and obstructing justice after police received a report of a fight in progress at the American Legion on Route 130.

Upon arrival at the American Legion at 2:07 a.m., Patrol Officer Glen Vega attempted to speak with the suspect, Paul Urgiles-Ortiz, who was uncooperative and acted in a disorderly manner, repeatedly screaming obscenities despite warnings to calm himself, police said. 

According to police, he was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct, and as officers were speaking with him, his brother, Rafael Urgiles-Ortiz, repeatedly attempted to interfere and physically pull him from the officers. Police said he was placed under arrest as well. The brothers were later released pending court action.

Driving While Intoxicated Charge for California Man

On Dec. 23, Kevin Encinias, 46, of Vallejo, Calif., was arrested for driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated in a school zone, failure to maintain lane, careless driving, reckless driving, obstructing traffic, and unlicensed driver after police observed Encinias’ vehicle to be travelling at an unusually slow speed and in an erratic manner eastbound on Route 33 near the Twin Rivers Mall.  

Patrol Officer David Berez stopped Encinias on Robertson Road at 12:34 a.m., and police said Encinias was found to have an odor of an alcoholic beverage and slurred speech.  He was given field sobriety tests and arrested for DWI.  He was later released pending court action.

Terroristic Threats and Drunken Driving Charges for Manchester, NJ, Man

Joseph M. Schneider, 47, of Manchester, NJ, was arrested on Dec. 25 for making terroristic threats, among other things, at an Oakbranch Road residence.

Police responded at 9:12 a.m. to the residence for a report of a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers learned that the suspect had threatened to kill the victim, broken the alarm panel in the residence, and left the area in his vehicle. Police said when Patrol Officer Matthew Oehling observed the vehicle traveling southbound on Route 130, he activated his emergency lights, but Schneider failed to stop. He reportedly made an abrupt turn the wrong way on a one way street into the Shady Rest complex in an attempt to elude the officer.

Police said Schneider was located in the complex and was found to have an odor of an alcoholic beverage and bloodshot, watery eyes. He was also found to have an open bottle of wine on his person, according to police.

Schneider was arrested for making terroristic threats, eluding, harassment, criminal mischief, driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to breath test, careless driving, reckless driving, wrong way on one way street, open container, and failure to maintain lane. Bail was set at $5,000 cash and Schneider was transferred to the Mercer County Corrections Center in lieu of bail pending court action. 

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