By Stephen Appezzato
This past week Middletown police arrested three suspects attempting to steal motorcycles from a sales lot, while Rumson police arrested a man for aggravated assault at a local restaurant.
At around three in the morning Monday, Middletown Township Police responded to a burglary in process at Motorcycle Mall of Monmouth, located on Route 35. Two subjects were taken into custody and a third was apprehended after a foot chase.
A police investigation revealed Joshua Hueston of Union City, Ronald Terry of Newark and Luis Ruben Cuevas of Brooklyn were using two stolen work vans to take the motorcycles. Inside the vans, police recovered five motorcycles and one ATV from Motorcycle Mall, valued at $56,000.
“I would like to commend the great police work and the professionalism of all the officers who responded to this crime in progress and assisted in the follow-up investigation,” said Middletown Police Chief Craig Weber.
Hueston, Terry and Cuevas were all charged with burglary, theft, criminal mischief, burglary tools, two counts of receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit burglary. In addition, Cuevas also faces an obstruction charge. According to Middletown police, the three men were processed and lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending a detention hearing in Monmouth County Superior Court.
Restaurant Altercation
On Aug. 22 at 8:30 p.m., Rumson patrol officers were dispatched to Red Horse by David Burke after a 911 call reporting a “man that pulled a knife” on another restaurant goer.
At the scene, 75-year-old Palm Beach Shores, Florida, resident David Gulley was taken into custody after police witnessed him strike the restaurant manager in the side “with a closed fist.”
According to Rumson Police, witness statements and cellphone footage confirmed Gulley lunged at a man with a steak knife after an argument stemming from spilled wine.
A video of the incident that went viral on social media seemed to confirm the encounter. The footage depicts the restaurant manager attempting to de-escalate an argument among patrons after wine was spilled on the victim’s wife.
“There’s other people enjoying their dinner right now. Please (stop),” the manager can be heard saying.
“Slow down on the old spirits, people,” a bystander remarks.
“It was an accident,” a woman says.
“An accident? There’s wine, look you see the wine all over her back?” the victim, a man seated, seemingly says, pointing to a woman, presumably his wife.
After a moment, the footage shows the victim lean toward Gulley. He can be heard saying, “You got a knife in your hand?”
Within seconds, Gulley lunges at the victim, who appears to have blocked the knife-wielding arm. Gulley then falls or is pushed to the floor and is held by the victim and bystanders.
“Call 911,” patrons urgently say.
In the aftermath, restaurantgoers were flustered and confused about how the incident escalated after somebody just “dropped a glass of wine,” one says.
According to Rumson Police, the victim suffered a lacerated finger and refused medical treatment at the scene.
Red Horse owner Chef David Burke called the entire episode “an unfortunate situation.”
“I’m very proud of the way our manager handled the situation,” Burke said.
“Luckily, no one got hurt and I’m happy that the management handled it the way they did.”
Gulley was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, terroristic threats, disorderly conduct and simple assault by patrolman James Camilleri, and released on a summons.
Those arrested or charged with offenses are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The article originally appeared in the August 29 – September 4, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
