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DWI, Porch Pirates, Criminal Mischief, Overturned Car, and an Altered Licence Plate in Montgomery

  • Writer: The Montgomery News
    The Montgomery News
  • 14 hours ago
  • 2 min read

The Montgomery News | Posted Jan. 12, 2026


Driver Allegedly Alters Licence Plate

Black tape on a license plate.
License plate altered with black tape.
(Image from @placardabuse.)

Montgomery Police charged Vincent Maguire, 53, of South Ozone Park, NY with Obstructing the Administration of Law and Hindering Apprehension on January 6, for allegedly altering characters on his licence plate using black tape. The incident is related to a traffic stop on October 29, 2025. It became apparent that the license plate displayed on the vehicle Maguire was driving had been altered.  Maguire was also issued motor vehicle summonses, and is scheduled to appear in Montgomery Municipal Court.


Using black tape on a license plate is illegal in most places, done to obscure numbers from cameras (traffic, toll, or law enforcement) or to disguise a vehicle for nefarious purposes, like avoiding tolls or committing crimes.


DWI Crash on Route 206

Montgomery police discovered an unoccupied vehicle in the grass along Route 206 near Bridgepoint Road in Belle Mead on January 6.


Montgomery Township NJ Police Blotter, The Montgomery News

Police determined the vehicle was driven by Venu Jonnalagadda, 39, of Belle Mead, and located Jonnalagadda near the crash scene. Police determined he had consumed alcoholic beverages prior to operating the vehicle and arrested him. Jonnalagadda was charged with driving while intoxicated, failure to provide breath samples, reckless driving, careless driving, failure to report a motor vehicle accident, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident.  Jonnalagadda was released and is scheduled to appear in Montgomery Municipal Court.


Overturned Vehicle

Montgomery Police responded to River Road (County Route 533) near Dead Tree Run Road for a motor vehicle crash on December 29 at 1:08 pm. Piyali Nag, 41 of Hillsborough, was traveling north in a 2023 Mercedes Benz when she lost control of the vehicle, crossed over into the southbound lane, struck a tree, and overturned. 


Nag was able to exit the vehicle with assistance from officers on scene. Montgomery EMS responded to the scene and treated Nag for minor injuries. Nag was refused further treatment at a hospital.  Nag was issued a summons for careless driving.  


Stolen Packages

Montgomery Police charged Richard Wolfmuller, 44, of Hamilton with theft following an investigation of stolen packages from The Somerset at Montgomery Apartments on December 30. A police investigation determined Wolfmuller took two packages from a common area of the building after they were delivered to a resident. Wolfmuller is scheduled to appear in Montgomery Municipal Court.


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Theft from Car in Skillman Park

A Skillman resident reported the theft of a bag from her locked car at Skillman Park on December 31. The resident was walking in the park and upon returning to the vehicle, noticed the bag missing from the vehicle. It contained papers and miscellaneous items.


Someone Keyed a 2026 BMW in Montgomery

A Taggert Drive resident reported on January 5 that someone took a key and scratched the paint off his new BMW. Police did not say whether the car was parked on the street on in a driveway during the criminal mischief incident.


Porch Pirate on Carriage Trail

On January 8, a Carriage Trail resident reported the theft of packages from the front porch of the residence. The theft occurred between January 3 and January 6.  Police are investigating the incident.

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