According to police, on Sunday, December 5th, at 3:42 a.m., Wayne Police Officers responded to Park Lane on the report that a resident had observed a male possibly attempting to steal a vehicle from the caller’s driveway and that the suspect fled when yelled at by the resident.
Officials said Wayne Police Officer Steven Martell responded and observed a male that matched the provided description walking away from the area of the residence involved.
According to officials, Officer Martell noted that he had observed the same man walking toward the direction of that residence a short time earlier.
Officer Martell stopped the man and detained him for investigation.
Other officers went to the residence and observed security video that showed the suspect had entered the vehicle while it was parked in the driveway.
The resident was taken to the scene where the suspect was detained and positively identified him as the man he had chased away from his vehicle.
Officer Martell arrested the suspect and discovered that he had a switchblade knife and a small flashlight in his pocket.
Arrested was Nicholas Scalici, 31, of Franklin Borough.
He was charged with Burglary, Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and Possession of Burglar Tools. Mr. Scalici was charged on a warrant and place in Passaic County Jail in accordance with bail reform guidelines.
The charges against Mr. Scalici are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.