Summit Year in Review: Police and Fire Events of 2012 (Part One)

January 2, 2012 – 2 Minors Injured in School Bus Accident

Two minors were injured after a school bus overturned on Route 24. The bus overturned on the bridge over River Road. According to Summit Fire Department Battalion Chief Rick Locke three people were injured, two of them minors. He added that the school bus appeared to have hit a guardrail and spun around at least once where it came to stop in the center lane of Route 24.

January 13, 2012 – State Police Helicopter Lands Unexpectedly in Summit

A state police helicopter made an unexpected landing in the Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit on the afternoon of Jan. 13. According to reports there were at least two passengers on board when the helicopter landed in order to wait for snow to pass.

January 20, 2012 – Firefighters Still Investigating Cause of Home Blaze

A fire on Twombly Drive caused extensive damage to a single-family home on the afternoon of Jan. 19. No one was injured in the fire but six different crews responded to the fire in order to get it under control.

February 4, 2012 – 1 Hospitalized in Friday Night Blaze

One resident was injured in Ashwood Drive fire on Feb. 3 and other residents were displaced as the fire damaged the structure extensively. About 11 residents were awaiting relocation by the Red Cross following the fire.

March 29, 2012 – Police Nab Springfield Avenue Robbery Suspect

Summit Police arrested an Irvington man following an attempted robbery at a Summit Avenue home. The homeowner heard footsteps and came up from the basement and confronted the intruder who pushed the homeowner down a flight of stairs. Summit PD arrested and identified the man as Cecil Mitchell-Thomas.

April 9, 2012 – Summit PD Plans April 25 Public Meeting

Summit Police Chief Robert Weck made a move to create a neighborhood watch program for the city after assuming his position in the fall. On Jan. 9 the Community Policing Unit was created giving residents the opportunity to watch out for each other. In April a meeting was held to discuss the importance of the group further.

April 16, 2012 – Summit Hedge Fund Manager Gets Year In Prison For Fraud

In a press release from the United State's Attorney in Newark, James Turner, 45, the chief investment office and portfolio manager of the Clay Capital Fund in Summit was sentenced to a year in prison in April. Turner was charged with securities fraud for participating in insider trading and netted more than $2.5 million.

May 10, 2012 – Police Arrest Summit Teen in Strong Arm Robbery

Ronald A. Perry, II, 18, of Summit and an unnamed teen from Irvington have been arrested by Summit Police for an robbery on Union Place on May 4. The two teens along with another suspect robbed two 15-year-olds near Starbucks demanding wallets and cellphones or they would physically harm them, the robbers only took cash from the victims.

June 16, 2012 – Summit Police Captain Retires After 28-Year Career

John Dougherty retired from the Summit Police Department on May 25, after a 28-year long career.  "He played a major part in making this organization what it is today," Police chief Robert Weck said in a statement. Dougherty moved on to a position as Director of Security at Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth. 

June 22, 2012 – Crews Clean Up Pesticide Truck Spill In Summit

A crash caused on South Street caused a chemical truck to overturn spilling pesticide along the roadway. A Union County HAZMAT team was at the scene to control the spill. Following the crash, three people were rushed to the hospital.

July 18, 2012 – Getting to Know Det. Elizabeth Rice

Elizabeth Rice was named the first female detective in the Summit Police Department in July. Rice joined the Summit PD in 2006 after working with the Bedminster Township Police. Rice said she was honored to be the first female detective in Summit. “Many women in law enforcement have paved the way for me through their perseverance, hard work and dedication to this career,” she said “I hope to do the same for others, as long as they are willing to work hard for it.“