Bronx Driver Charged After Holmdel Traffic Stop

HOLMDEL, NJ — An officer on patrol in the Chestnut Ridge Road area stopped a car at about 3 a.m. Tuesday for a traffic violation, and charged the driver after he was found not to have a license or identification, police reported.

Holmdel Patrolman Andrew DePinho was on Neighborhood Patrol in the Old Manor development as part of a program to deter crime and locate suspicious or criminal behavior, police said.

Police said DePinho observed the vehicle driving in the area commit a motor vehicle violation, at which time he stopped it on Heyward Hills Drive, according to police .

The driver, Adama Tarawalley, 22, Bronx, NY, was unable to provide a license or identification, and was ultimately discovered to be providing DePinho with false information, police said.

Police said Tarawalley was also found to have an active warrant out of the Fort Lee jurisdiction, where he had been released on his own recognizance, police said.

Tarawalley was arrested and transported to the Holmdel Police Department where proper identification was made. Tarawalley was charged with hindering apprehension, along with motor vehicle violations and released, police said.

The three passengers in his car, men ages 20 or 21 from the Bronx, were not charged and were released at the scene, police said.

Holmdel police ask residents to remain vigilant and continue to report any suspicious behavior they observe.