UPDATED: Alleged Burglar Caught in Child's Playhouse
Ronald Catti, of Brooklyn, tried to avoid capture; 3-year-old was in the yard when authorities apprehended him.
Photos
A New York man was charged Monday with eluding a police officer after authorities from multiple law enforcement agencies chased him through the Packanack Lake section of town and near Valley Road, Wayne Police said.
Ronald Catti, 32, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was found in the backyard of a house on Kossouth Place after personnel from the Wayne Police Department, Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, and the state police, pursued him after he failed to stop for a traffic stop, Det./Capt. James Clarke said.
Clarke said Wayne police had Catti under surveillance after naming him a suspect in several burglaries that occurred in town since late April; Wayne police began watching Catti about a week ago.
Wayne police detectives watched Catti proceed onto Overlook Avenue in Little Falls at about 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Clarke said. Wayne and Little Falls police determined that Catti burglarized a house on Overlook Avenue at about that time Monday, Clarke said.
Catti reportedly took several thousand dollars worth of jewelry and coins from the house, Clarke said.
Clarke said Catti was staying in a house on Plesantview Drive, which is located near Wayne Valley High School.
Catti tried to return home and Wayne police officers attempted a motor vehicle stop, but Catti took off in the Mercedes he was driving, Clarke said.
“At some point, after a short chase, he crashed his vehicle into a brick garage at Alps Road and Macdonald Drive,” Clarke said. “Catti ended up fleeing on foot.”
Authorities searched Alps Road, both sides of Packanack Lake, and down towards Valley Road and eventually found Catti on a property on Kossouth Place, Clarke said.
Lt. Robert Martello said outside the property authorities found Catti inside a free-standing children's playhouse in the backyard at 6 Kossouth Place. The house is located near the end of a cul-de-sac a few blocks off of Valley Road.
Mickey Bradley owns the house. Bradley, an inspector with the Bergen County Sheriff's Department, was not home at the time of the incident.
According to Bradley, he said that his wife told him their 3-year-old daughter Kaitlyn was about to climb up into the playhouse when law enforcement personnel went into the yard in search of Catti.
Clarke said Catti is on parole in New York on previous charges, including burglary.
Numerous items of jewelry were recovered as a result of the incident, Clarke noted, but did not say where the items were found.
The items will be made available to area police departments to identify the proceeds of past burglaries and thefts, Clarke said.
In addition to eluding police, Wayne police also charged Catti with reckless driving, failing to stop at a red light and improper passing, Clarke said.
Wayne municipal court Judge Peter Weiss set bail at $150,000 for the eluding charge.
Little Falls police charged Catti with burglary, theft, and criminal mischief, police said. G. Dolph Corradino, Little Falls municipal judge, set Catti's bail at $75,000, Clarke said.
Catti was transported to the Passaic County Jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Wayne Municipal court Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.
Police sent out a reverse 911 call to Packanack Lake residents shortly after 4:30 p.m., informing them that an alleged burglar was “on foot in your area.”
According to another message sent out at about 6:30 p.m., the police department said the alleged burglar "who was on foot in your area" was arrested and in the custody of authorities.
The police department has been working with the sheriff’s and prosecutor’s offices to combat a string of burglaries that have occurred in town since the end of April.
Jewelry and cash were taken from several homes.
Two Hackensack men were charged with burglary after police said they broke into a Fairfield Road home earlier this month.
Members of the department, the sheriff’s office, and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office held an information session with residents Saturday to discuss the incidents.
— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
In This article
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Wayne Police Department
475 Valley Rd, Wayne, NJ -
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Passaic County Sheriff's Department - Law Enforcement Division
435 Hamburg Tpke, Wayne, NJ
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Wayne Valley High School
551 Valley Rd, Wayne, NJ
Bee
5:35 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Did not receive the call .What part of Wayne?
Tina Starke
5:48 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
From FaceBook friends, it's the Packanack Lake area and Alps Road
Kel
6:17 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
My husband is at a baseball game at Wayne Valley high school as of 6:15pm and heard that they found the suspect who crashed his car on Alps Road and was on foot in the woods in the neighborhood near Wayne Valley. Please send out an update so people know the suspect was found.
Nose Wayne
6:27 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Police and Sheriff Department are checking the area on Alps Road between Ratzer Road and Osborne Terrace. If anybody sees this person, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!!! The Sheriff also has dogs in the area. If you see something,say something!!!!!
Wayne resident
6:31 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
@kel - the man is not caught per say, the police are still in pursuit. Two very different things
Steve
6:41 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
6:25 PM Just got the "all clear" call from police stating suspect was apprehended
stewart resmer
6:33 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Well there you go, we now have a system in place where the general public is alerted in real time as to what is going on and who to potentialy be on the look out for, a very progressive state of affairs.
Ed Zachary
7:45 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Right? I mean, we're well into the 21st century. We might as well use the technology available effectively.
Wayne resident
6:47 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
@lorraine- they were over by wayne valley searching as well.
Nose Wayne
6:47 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Stewart, Brought the idea to my friend to tell the Chief last week to do a REVERSE 911 about the Town Meeting. Guess he finally got the message. Got alot of phone calls about what is going on.Will keep everyone updated when I hear more.
Carol Dziuba
7:05 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Got a Reverse 911 call here in Packanack Lake some time around 4 or so. Then my husband got stuck in a lot of traffic on Alps Rd, espeicially near MacDonald Dr. Just got a call that they apprehended and arrested the suspect.
doreen herlinsky
8:24 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Why didnt we get the reverse 911? I had the police in my yard.
Sandy d
8:26 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Still not on news!
Michelle
9:34 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Why would you want this on the news....it's all over town and Wayne Patch and Wayne Today.
stewart resmer
8:28 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
ah yes the 'ol 'hiding in the childs play house trick' again is it?
now do the WPD need a warrant in this example or does this qualify under hot pursuit? lol
either way it sure sounds like the WPD was on the ball!
Nose Wayne
8:36 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Scary, kids could have been outside playng. Kossouth Place is just up the street from James Fallon School where kids are playing in the playground all the time. Glad to see nobody was hurt.
Ed Zachary
10:20 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
"Glad to see nobody was hurt."
Yes. I'm sure this was too close for comfort for a lot of people in that neighborhood. It's very fortunate that no innocents were harmed.
Nose Wayne
8:51 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Doreen, This started on the other side of Alps Road. They caught the subject when he baled from his car on Alps Road by MacDonald Drive.Don;t NOSE where you live ,but he was caught rather quickly on Kossouth Place after he baled out.Didn't need a reverse 911 for you because he was already in custody.
Lil Wayne
9:00 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Nose, we're the police chasing by car when he bailed out? Or was he caught in the act like last time?
Nose Wayne
9:49 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Lil Wayne,They were chasing him when he crashed and baled by upper macdonald drive.Finally caught him in a back yard play set on kossouth.
Lynn
10:27 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Did he crash into a house after stealing a Mercedes ?
Sandy d
11:02 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Who is this guy where is he from some more imformation would be nic
Matthew Korwin
11:02 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
That's my street and I was home alone outside
Gdubbs
11:10 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
If you look back in previous articles (The week after they caught the 2 fine tax payers from Hackensack) one of the witness descriptions is a young male (early 30's) and a young female (blonde) were seen in the area in a black suv. From what I'm being told, this bozo crashed a black suv on alps trying to escape the police. Not saying it's definite by any means, but it would sure be a relief if he is linked to the other burglaries. Nice job WPD!
Matthew Korwin
11:12 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
No wonder I heard 30 Sirons outside
Gdubbs
11:14 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Does anyone know where the robbery or attempted robbery took place? I'm assuming it was just off alps on either side.
Matthew Korwin
11:22 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
It was between alps and valley really close to fallon elemantry and close to birch wood and clifford
Nose Wayne
11:23 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Lil,They were chasing him when he crashed. Chased him a couple of blocks until they caught him in the back yard hiding.
Gdubbs
11:37 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
There's the update we've been waiting for!
Frank Gallagher
11:40 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
"Clarke said Catti was staying in a house on Plesantview Drive"
What are the circumstances of his living arrangements?
Who is responsible for inviting him to Wayne, and housing him while he robbed his neighbors?
Michelle
10:20 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
What do you mean "inviting him to Wayne". Last I checked we are a free society and are allowed to come and go where we want. I don't condone this persons actions and I'm glad he's caught and will face the consequences but statements like that remind me of how people always want government to be involved but then when it affects you then it's a problem. Can't have it both ways.....
John Davies
11:50 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
A lot of people are asking questions in this thread that are answered in the article. Start by reading the article.
Joygarden
12:28 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Ha ha that's right, read the article!!
Bee
3:30 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Ronald catti in ny was charged with burglary in 2005 I'm assuming it's the same person seeing there is only one Ronald catti listed in ny. If this is the same person he's a repeat offender with no regard for anyone please lock him away for a long time! ---- Ronald needs to count his blessings that the police apprehended him because if it was a Wayne resident, he might have been taken his last breath yesterday!
Gdubbs
7:09 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
John, the article was significantly updated late last night. All of those posts are from the very vague original article that came out yesterday evening
John Davies
8:52 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Okay. That makes sense.
Scondo
7:29 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
kids, this is just another reaso to not get a tattoo.
Justice
7:48 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Code Enforcement needs to step up to the ongoing problem of illegal rentals/housing in Wayne.
Michelle
9:40 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Listen, I'm not condoning ANY of his actions but just because he was staying with someone doesn't mean that he was illegally renting. I've had my friend stay with me in a house I own when he was he was displaced from his home so your statement is just another bashing of the township of Wayne.
Michelle
9:10 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Way to go Wayne PD!
wyldthang18
9:31 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Whoever he was staying with should be arrested too!
Michelle
9:43 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Why? I agree they should be investigated but why arrested? Maybe they didn't know anything...it's possible...this is how lynch mobs start. Let's wait to see how this plays out. And everyone who was saying that the Wayne PD was sitting in cars doing nothing, eating donuts, taking to friends, don't you all have egg on your face. This guy has been under surveillance. Do you think that the police department is going to let out everything they know when they know it? Then there is no element of surprise. And the patrol cops aren't' the ones doing the investigations, they have special people for that in the PD. Sorry for the rant but I was just tired of hearing such negative talk about our town and the PD. Those in glass houses, people!
eyes wide shut
9:57 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Get real. arrest the person he was staying with? Maybe just maybe the person he was staying with was unaware of his actions? You sound like a lynch mob now.
Frank Gallagher
10:00 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
If he wasn't renting from strangers, then it's very likley that his hosts knew this:
"Clarke said Catti is on parole in New York on previous charges, including burglary."
Michelle
10:05 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Who said he was renting? And maybe they did know he has a criminal background but what does that have to do with his recent antics?
eyes wide shut
10:30 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Well put Michelle. We should ALL wait till ALL the facts come out instead of speculating. The bottom line is WPD caught him and should be commended for their actions. Especially since no one was hurt. Most of the posts here are all coming from second hand info. Only the WPD and those involved know the true facts.
wyldthang18
1:02 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
You can't honesty say the person who this POS was staying with didn't have a clue the he was robbing all these houses. No way.
Michelle
1:10 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
I don't know and neither do you.
wyldthang18
1:14 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Actually his criminal background has everything to do with it. Whether this guy was staying with someone legally or not, unless he was a criminal himself, why would you want one in your home? In that case why not let some recent parole who's a known sex offender teach at the local elementary school then. His criminal background is not important so he should be fine.
Michelle
1:24 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
He was on parole which means he satisfied his punishment. I'm not saying this guy or the people he was with were upstanding citizens I'm just not one to ask for arrest for everyone in the house he was in. Just because you associate with someone who has served time does not mean you too are a criminal. Most likely, yes, but the lynch mob mentality will get us nowhere....
wyldthang18
1:33 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
When you associate with criminals, you know you are more likely to get into trouble than not and you must pay the consequences. Let's hope a mob mentality scares any other potential criminals off and we can finally have a peaceful Wayne back.
Michelle
1:36 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Agreed on both counts.
Bee
10:25 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Apparently this loser was in jail before on burglary charges. Is he learning anything by his mistakes? Is a small amount of jail time teaching him anything except that he can get free room and board, three meals a day,free work out time with weights and that's probably where he got his tattoos from for free from other inmates! Keep him off the streets or send him to Singapore where they won't tolerate this sh_ _ !
Sean Gilday
10:27 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Great job to our Wayne police force for having the guy under survailence and capturing him
George Urgolo
10:30 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Great job to the officers involved!
wayne resident
11:19 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
How does one get a reverse 911 call To be informed when something is going on? Do we need to sign up for this or.....?
Michelle
11:41 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Wayne res....go to Waynetownship.com and on the left you can click on the Alert Notification System and sign up!
Daniel, maybe you should post this info somewhere on wayne patch?
Justice
12:59 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Michelle, there are ordinances that limit the number of non related people living in a household, otherwise, the residences become re classified as rooming houses, etc. All towns have this. It is unfortunate that you feel my statement to be bashing, when I am simply stating what I have been told by the township personnel themselves.
Michelle
1:27 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Yes there are ordinances but none of us know for a fact the makeup of that household. And I just feel as though you were being a bit condescending to the town of Wayne, if that is not how you feel, my apologies.
wyldthang18
1:35 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Northjersey.com said he was staying with his girlfriend. How does that factor into the ordinance?
Justice
2:06 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Michelle, I am not a condescending person. American English is not my native language; therefore, my literal translation may appear to be tough. I am often reminded that the written word can be harsher than the spoken word. You are right, we do not know for a fact what the make-up of that household is/was. There are residences, though, that contain more than one "unit" and should be taxed accordingly. They use the schools, utilities, etc. and are charged as one; when in fact, they may be charged as two or more; thereby, lessening the property tax burden for the rest of us. While I am compassionate/giving for the needy (there by the grace of God go I), I do not believe in the redistribution of wealth and especially, do not want to be "used" by those that have the ability to pay but are trying to "get over". I commend you highly for helping your friend in need; but you are not the example I am referencing and please do not take it that way.
Justice
2:12 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Wldthing, I don't know. Call the township, I am sure they can provide you with the exact ordinance. There was a time in this country when co-habitation was frowned upon, if not, illegal. There was a time when Immigration at Ellis Island would return an unaccompanied and unsponsored single female to her country of origin. There was a time, etc., etc.
Lorraine
1:06 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Thank you to the Wayne Police Department and all of the other involved agencies.
Cat
2:46 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
http://www.northjersey.com/wayne/062612_Wayne_police_hope_arrest_ends_wave_of_break-ins.html?page=all
During some of the break-ins last week, there were reports of a silver or gray BMW with a woman driver. Well, read the article above and tell me you all still think his girlfriend knows nothing about what Mr. Catti is doing.
Michelle
2:54 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
I have a silver BMW so I am associated with him? Boy everyone is a detective now. Why don't you wait to pass judgement until all facts are known. And who says that the girl in the silver BMW is the same girl he lived with? I'm just saying that arresting the person he lives with without an investigation is wrong. How would you like to be arrested if it's found out that someone you're with was wanted on SUSPICION of a crime... you'd be screaming to SUE THE PD for WRONGFUL arrest!
Scondo
5:28 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
I read the article and think that Duke should get a few extra milk bones this week.
Wayne resident
12:45 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
I live in the neighborhood that this criminal was living in. I am disgusted to know that he was around this entire time. Really creeps me out...
Uncle Ray
7:15 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
I also know the house that this person was living in. There is usually 3 to 4 cars in the driveway at all times. (no need to go to work if your a thief) It's not a muti-use type dwelling, but rather a very typical looking ranch style. The occupants must know who they were living with. Whatever happend to background checks?
Nose Wayne
3:59 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
ALL alot of houses are rented out today.The Township does an inspection for fire safety devices (smoke/co detectors,fire ext.) and a CO (Certificate of Occupancy) inspection. If any renovations have been done illegally, this inspection will FINE THEM. They don't have to be all from the same family if you rent your house out.
Nose Wayne
4:02 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Ray,maybe he bathed them with stolen jewelry ?
Bee
5:09 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
What type of cars were in their driveway?
Nose Wayne
9:51 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Lorri, Probabily stolen ones.
Bee
10:15 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
@Nose- I called the police because I seen three suspicious vehicles this past month. I was curious if any were the same ones on their driveway.
Nose Wayne
10:30 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Lorri, Probabily used different cars in different robberies. The other people living in the house didn't NOSE what was going on.Somebodys NOSE is growing.
Uncle Ray
7:28 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012
No more questions please! With the amount of stolen propert this guy was caught red handed with there's no way that he dosen't go to jail for a very long time. We don't want to give him a chance of not getting a fair trial by trying him and possibly his accomplises here on patch. Let the Detectives and the Justice System work. I relieved and feel at ease that I can once again enjoy my nieghborhood.