Morristown police charged a “highly intoxicated” Long Valley man in connection with a string of damaged vehicles and properties in the town’s historic district last weekend.
At least nine cars and two properties appear to have been involved, according to police reports.
Matthew Griffin, 25, initially was arrested and charged with criminal mischief after Police Officer Yeison de los Santos saw him standing near a parked car on Colles Avenue at 3:24 am on Sunday, Dec. 2.
Matthew, who appeared “highly intoxicated” to police, told them he was in the neighborhood looking for a friend named Sean.
Police observed some items on the street, outside the parked vehicle.
“We asked Griffin if he knew anything about this vehicle, and he said that he was inside of it, thinking that it was his friend’s,” police reported.
The car’s center console and ashtray were damaged, according to its owner, who told police said she had left the car unlocked because the remote was broken.
Matthew was processed at police headquarters and taken to Morristown Medical Center because of his intoxication. A few hours later, police were called back to the neighborhood to investigate a report of an attempted burglary of a Macculloch Avenue home.
At 7 am the homeowner discovered footprints on his rear door, which had been propped open with a brown paper bag stuffed with old newspapers. The man’s car also had been broken into. A belt that did not belong to him was found on the back porch, while a snow shovel usually kept there was found on the sidewalk near an Oak Street residence.
The owner of the Oak Street home told Police Officer Brian McDonnell that a split rail fence behind his house had been broken, along with the antenna of his vehicle. Officers McDonnell and Petr counted seven vehicles on Farragut Place with side view mirrors pushed in.
Next, the officers headed for the hospital to question Matthew Griffin some more. The suspect happened to be walking up Franklin Street, near the driveway to police headquarters. Police said they advised Matthew of his rights, which he waived.
Asked if he was missing a belt, the suspect answered yes and identified the belt found at Macculloch Avenue as the one.
“Griffin then was asked if he entered a second vehicle last night and he advised he may have. [Officer] Petr asked if it was a pick-up truck and he advised it may have been because that’s what he drove to town last night,” the report said.
Matthew Griffin was charged with burglary and two counts of attempting to commit a crime. His shoes and belt were logged as evidence by police.
