Crime & Safety

Trio Caught With Drugs Outside River Grille, Cops Say

New Providence residents face cocaine, marijuana and tampering with evidence charges.

Three New Providence residents face multiple charges, including possession of cocaine, tampering with evidence and obstruction, stemming from an incident last week outside River Grille, Chatham Borough Police said.

Anthony Natale, 25, was arrested Friday and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine), tampering with evidence, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Lisa Kretschmer, 23, was arrested Friday and charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Both were processed and released.

Patrick Fellinger, 25, was arrested Wednesday and charged with possession of CDS (cocaine), obstruction and possession of paraphernalia. He posted $1,000 bail and was released.

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According to Kevin O'Shea, a spokesman for the police department, Det. Daniel Walsh was observing the parking lot at the River Grille and saw three individuals enter a Jeep Liberty parked in the lot on Friday.

When it appeared the occupants were just sitting in the car and not going anywhere, Walsh approached the car to investigate, O'Shea said.

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The front passenger, later identified as Natale, exited the vehicle and pushed his way past Walsh and threw something over a fence at the edge of the parking lot, O'Shea said.

While Walsh was dealing with Natale, the other two occupants of the car walked back into the River Grille, O'Shea said.

Other officers arrived at the scene to assist Walsh, and a small glassine bag contianing suspected cocaine was found where Natale threw an object over the fence, O'Shea said.

Kretschmer, the owner of the Jeep, was located and a consent search of her vehicle revealed loose white powder suspected to be cocaine, another glassine bag containing suspected cocaine and a container of suspected marijuana, O'Shea said.

With the assistance of the management of the River Grille, one of the two other individuals in the SUW was identified as Fellinger, O'Shea said.

Natale and Kretschmer were arrested at the scene, and Fellinger was arrested on Wednesday, O'Shea said.


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