Clifton mom who always wanted to be a cop helps nab suspect

CLIFTON — A tough-minded mom who saw something and said something didn't just help Clifton police catch a suspect, but she may have helped Delaware lock up a wanted man.

Clifton Councilman William Gibson gave a shoutout at this week's council meeting to Gina Scaduto-Zhitnicko for her vigilance.

It ultimately led to the arrest of Martin Burnett, 47, of Coal Township, Pa., on various charges including burglary, receiving stolen property and possession of burglar tools, city police said.

Scaduto-Zhitnick of Springdale Court said she suspected something was wrong when she saw a man leave a neighboring house that she knew was uninhabited around 4 p.m. on Jan. 30.

The house had been undergoing work, she said, so there had been unfamiliar people there. But when she saw the man toss his bag across his shoulder and head toward a car, her suspicion grew. He climbed into a car with Massachusetts plates, she said.

"We locked eyes and he looked at me like I had done something," Scaduto-Zhitnicko said.

She didn't let the stare-down intimidate her. 

"If I see something suspicious, I go at it," she said. She had always wanted to be a cop. "It was my dream job," she said. 

Although she was on her way to watch her daughter cheer, Scaduto-Zhitnick followed him out of the neighborhood. They locked eyes again. She said the man sped away. 

Scaduto-Zhitnick sent a text message to Gibson, who is also a retired Clifton police officer, but he didn't immediately respond.

So when she returned home from her daughter's event, she decided to drive around the block. Night had fallen, but she spotted the car again, this time parked around the corner. 

She called the cops. She said about 10 officers showed up, saw the man in the house's bay window, and called for him to come out.

When he didn't respond, police forced their way into the house. 

Clifton Detective Lt. Robert Bracken said they found the man hiding in the attic.

Scaduto-Zhitnick said she led police to the car, which, it turns out, had been reported stolen from Newark, Del. 

Burnett also had burglary tools such as a bolt cutter, glass cutters, and screwdrivers, the detective said.  

Burnett, who has Clifton roots, was also wanted on an outstanding warrant from South Jersey, Bracken said. 

Pond ripples 

The story of the arrest that appeared on NorthJersey.com

 ultimately drew the attention of  authorities in Delaware, where Burnett faced probation violation charges. 

"Our office became aware that Mr. Burnett had been arrested in New Jersey for burglary and related offenses," said Carl Kanefsky, public information officer, Delaware Department of Justice.

Safety:Dangerous roads in Clifton, Paterson will be made narrower

North Jersey:Family of Fort Lee woman dragged by bus in Leonia to receive $5M settlement

Holidays:Take your princess to a 'Castle' for Valentine's Day — White Castle

They coordinated efforts with law enforcement in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, and a detainer was filed to hold Burnett until he can be returned to Delaware to address his alleged violation of probation, Kanefsky said.

After the initial story, his grateful ex-girlfriend contacted NorthJersey.com. "I know him personally unfortunately. I want to thank the resident who called police," she wrote, saying she wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons. 

She said she had a child with him, and her lawyers had been trying for nine years to put an end to what she called the harassment and stalking of her and her daughter.

Burnett, Bracken said, would have been released under New Jersey's new bail reform laws, but was instead handed over to Delaware authorities. 

Even though Scaduto-Zhitnick describes herself a tough person, she said she was moved to learn that she had helped the Delaware woman. "I'd like to meet the poor girl," she said.