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Police Pull Unconscious Man, Mother From Two-Alarm Apartment Fire

Detective Keith Boryseskne and Officer Jerome Pleasants pulled a 50-year-old resident from a blaze Saturday afternoon before the fire department arrived on scene.

 

A West Orange detective and township police officer re-entered a burning Pleasant Valley Way apartment Saturday afternoon after helping a 72-year-old woman to safety in order to rescue her unconscious son when fire broke out, officials said.

According to West Orange police, Det. Keith Boryseskne and Officer Jerome Pleasants arrived at 1480 Pleasant Valley Way at about 1:50 p.m. just before the fire department and reported heavy smoke conditions in a unit in the apartment complex.

Boryseskne entered the apartment and helped 72-year-old Elaine Sugerman out the smoke-filled apartment, police said. She told police her 50-year-old son was still in the kitchen of the apartment.

According to the report, Boryseskne then went back into the apartment and found Robert Sugerman on the kitchen floor unable to get up.

The detective picked up Sugerman and started to pull him to safety. Pleasants re-entered the apartment and assisted, according to police.

According to West Orange Deputy Fire Chief Paul Wannemacher, the fire department arrived on scene just before 2 p.m. and extinguished the fire, which started in the basement. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, the department said, and the home is currently uninhabitable.

Robert Sugerman was transported to Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and treated for smoke inhalation, police said.

Boryseskne and Pleasants were also transported to Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston but were released several hours later, officials said. 

In addition to the West Orange Fire Department response, crews from East Orange, Orange and Montclair stood by for mutual aid.

Related Topics: Detective Keith Boryseskne, Fire, Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange Deputy Fire Chief Paul Wannemacher, West Orange Police Officer Jerome Pleasants, and west orange fire department

john anthony prignano

2:33 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013

Terrific performance by 2 of West Orange's Finest

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barry_geltzeiler

3:21 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013

Det. Keith and Off. Jerome are nothing less than HEROES. Once again our police working without a contract for the past 4 years still put their lives on the line for our citizens. THANK YOU GUYS, THANK YOU!!!!

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jack mc offer

9:17 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Very classy to bring up a contract issue.Good timing. PS they are working under a contract, it just doesn't include raises but all other stipulations are in effect. Great job by the cops and thanks for your bravery and dedication.

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barry_geltzeiler

10:01 am on Friday, March 8, 2013

hey Jack when you put your life on the line WITHOUT RAISES for four years then your comment will have some validity. until then be a credit to your name!!!

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Tom

9:11 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013

Your statement is disgusting.

Andy C

12:59 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013

I know the Sugerman's personally and am so relieved that they are ok. I also know Officer Pleasants personally and am so glad he is part of the West Orange Police Department. Thank you Det. Boryseskne for your service to our community.

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Eva Newman Goldstein

8:25 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Also please recognize that the Sugarman's next door neighbor, Max Goldstein was instrumental in saving his neighbors, Elaine and Roger Sugarman's lives. It was Max Goldstein who called 911 and reported the fire and he also directed the Firemen as to the lay out of the burning apartment. If Max Goldstein did not report the fire the Sugarman Family would have died and his apartment and his neighbors apartment would have burned down too and he also saved the lives of his two dogs!

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Julie Levine

12:21 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013

The article states that it was the Sugerman family, not "Sugarman".

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Julie Levine

3:20 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013

And the 50 year old is ROGER not ROBERT

Julie Levine

12:21 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013

The article states it was the "Sugerman" family - not "Sugarman".

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Max dizzangs

10:32 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013

Sugarman is correct

Step away from the keyboard for a moment Julie
Obviously the people that know them know how to spell their names

You must really have nothing better to do

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Julie Levine

11:16 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013

No. The spelling a person made in comments was wrong. Not with an a! The article is correct in the last name spelling. But the man's first name is Roger....not Robert. I know who they are. Guess you don't.

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Max dizzangs

12:31 am on Friday, March 8, 2013

Julie. Stop trying to come off as educated because clearly you are not.

I am the next door neighbor of Elaine and Roger Sugarman for over 20 years. Notice how i spelled his name with an "A".

Do not tell me how to spell my next door neighbors name.

This article is not correct along with many others written about it. When the first responders arrived Elaine was already safe and sound. Additionally Roger was pulled out of the burning apartment conscious, standing, and let's not forget to mention that he was totally naked. I can attest to this because I was there unlike you.

Many articles written about this event were embellished. That includes this one. Not all of us believe everything we read on the internet.

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Bill

12:31 am on Friday, March 8, 2013

Julie: Regardless of the spelling of names, you have to recognize Max's critical role in saving the lives of his neighbors. That should hold much more weight than how to spell their names. Take a step back, and realize this. Better yet, take a break from the internet entirely for the sake of everyone's sanity.

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Julie Levine

8:57 am on Friday, March 8, 2013

Max....you are being a bully. I am correct. Why don't you ask the source. I have personal knowledge and merely corrected a comment and the reporter re spelling. No need to be nasty here. Don't personalize my statements if you have issues.

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barry_geltzeiler

10:01 am on Friday, March 8, 2013

Julie, do not dignify these anonymous knucleheads with a response. You are way too much of a lady. Tell them to come at me I am easy enough to find!!!

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Julie Levine

11:17 am on Friday, March 8, 2013

Thank you, Barry. Why are people permiited to make comments with anonymous names on here? Seems cowardly. I don't think our police force ever gets the credit they deserve.....and how do they survive, supporting families, etc. as the cost of living increases, and they get no raises in 4 years?! Also, I don't think I would be alive today without the security they afford me. People don't understand - they are really incredible!

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Max dizzangs

2:54 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013

I'm not being anonymous. I was the one who called 911.

I see no point in continuing this argument. I have better things to do than try to convince a senile and stubborn old lady that I am correct.

I've known the Sugarman family since I was a little boy, and if it wasn't for me calling 911 they would have burned alive.

Like I said, this story isn't correct, and neither are you Julie.

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barry_geltzeiler

3:20 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013

and your given name is Max Dizzangs? if not then you are anonymous and please stop being rude towards Ms Levine.

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Bill

6:32 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013

Yes, his name is Max Dizzangs. You clearly do not realize how much Max can truly dangle.

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