Sparta man charged with harassment

Joseph Dumanov, 72, of Sparta was charged with harassment and bias intimidation, acting Sussex County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart said.

On Aug, 27, Sparta police responded to a report of someone being harassed outside a business. The victim said a former customer, Dumanov, called him several homophobic slurs and made inappropriate hand gestures toward him in front of several witnesses.

He then approached the victim in an aggressive manner and continued to make derogatory comments and harass him because of perceived sexual orientation, the victim told police.

Dumanov was charged with harassment and disorderly conduct and later was charged with fourth-degree bias intimidation.

The investigation was conducted by Sparta Police Department and the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office Bias Unit.

DWI charge

Patrick Lynch, 44, of Newton was charged with driving while intoxicated after police saw his vehicle go the wrong way on a one-way street.

On Sept. 3, Cpl. Arlene Lippencott was on patrol near Mohawk Avenue when she saw a red Jeep failing to maintain a lane and striking a curb near PNC Bank. It then went the opposite direction down the one-way portion of Mohawk Avenue.

Lippencott stopped the vehicle while the driver was turning into the opposite lane of travel on Woodport Road.

While speaking with the driver, Lynch, she suspected that he had consumed alcoholic beverages and asked him to perform a series of field sobriety tests.

Lynch then was arrested and taken to Sparta Police Headquarters.

After completing breath testing, he also was charged with reckless driving, careless driving, failure to maintain a lane and wrong way on a one-way street.

He was released to a sober adult and ordered to appear in Sparta Municipal Court.

DWI charge

Nicole Johnson, 40, of Wynnewood, Pa., was charged with driving while intoxicated after her vehicle was stopped Aug. 28 in Sparta, police said.

About 9:15 p.m., Officer Michael Poon saw a gray Mercedes Benz cross over the double yellow line on Woodport Road He also saw the vehicle fail to negotiate a curve in the road near Sawmill Road, crossing over the white fog line and almost completely into the shoulder of the road.

While speaking with the driver, Johnson, he suspected that she had consumed alcoholic beverages and asked her to perform a series of field sobriety tests.

After completion of the tests, she was arrested and taken to Sparta Police Headquarters. After breath testing, Johnson also was charged with careless driving and failure to maintain a lane.

She was released to a sober adult and ordered to appear in the Sparta Municipal Court.