Resident Found with Stolen Car, Cops Say

A Wayne resident faces charges of charges of receiving stolen property, having a prohibited weapon, and possession of pepper spray, the Parsippany police said.

Parsippany police charged Richard Coviello, 37, last Thursday, the Parsippany Police Department said in a statement. 

Sgt. Yvonne Christiano said Officer Paul Levi was conducting random license plate checks at about 9:17 a.m. when he discovered a gray Lexus RX350 reported stolen out of Rochelle Park Jan. 13. The vehicle was parked in the lot of the Ramada Inn located at  949 Route 46, she said.

According to Christiano, police gained entry to the Lexus and found information identifying a suspect who was found in a room in the Ramada.

Police discovered that Coviello once worked for the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office. They also found a number of items in his possession: pepper spray, a billy club and an expandable police baton, along with two  law enforcement badges from the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office.

After being arrested and charged, Christiano said Coviello was released on his own recognizance.