Gabriel Donio
Man urinates publicly
Arrested after urinating inside store on WHP

HAMMONTON—A man was arrested at 7:55 p.m. on August 30 after he urinated publicly inside a store on the prime block of the White Horse Pike (Route 30) after eating food from the store, Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said.
“The manager of the store called about a man acting strangely in the store,” Friel said.
Upon arrival, Officer Gordon Ellis III spoke with the manager who said the accused subject was eating food off a shelf, then exposed himself to urinate on the floor, Friel said.
Ellis observed a subject who was later identified as Felix Ortiz, 48, of Winslow Twp. hunched over the deli counter, eating a carton of macaroni salad with his bare hands while standing in a pool of urine, Friel said.
Ortiz was placed under arrest, transported to police headquarters, processed and charged with lewdness and disorderly conduct, Friel said.
He was released on his own recognizance pending a court appearance in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court, Friel said.
Ellis was the arresting and charging officer, Friel said.
In other police news, an arrest was made at 6:34 a.m. on September 4 following a motor vehicle crash, Friel said.
Police were dispatched to the area of the 400 block of Line Street in reference to an ATV that impacted a telephone pole, Friel said.
Upon arrival to the area, officers were instructed to go the residence of John Rutecki, 26, of Hammonton, Friel said.
Officer Travis Hoffman found individuals at that residence, a male and a female, standing near a vehicle in the driveway, Friel said. Rutecki was asked if he was involved in a motor vehicle crash, Friel said.
“He replied that he was not and was at his residence all night,” Friel said.
While the officers were on location, dispatch advised the officers that they had received several calls stating they observed Rutecki impacting the telephone pole and crawling to his residence, Friel said.
AtlantiCare EMS was contacted and Rutecki refused treatment, Friel said.
Rutecki became disorderly, screaming and yelling and not complying with officers, Friel said. He was placed under arrest, charged with disorderly conduct and released pending an appearance in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court, Friel said.
Hoffman was the investigating and arresting officer, Friel said.