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Former West New York Police Officer Johnny Lara Dies, 53
Johnny A. Lara, a former West New York resident and police officer, died on Wednesday, Sept. 4. He was 53 years old.
Lara was born in Colombia and grew up in West New York, having served as a police officer before retiring and moving to Houston TX, according to his obituary on the Barquin Funeral Home website.
He is survived by his wife, Cindy Valderramos Lara; their children Brandon, Bella and Jeremy Lara; his mother Emma J. Lara; and his siblings, Rosario Crabtree, Jimmy and Sammy Lara.
Lara was preceded in death by his father, Marcelino and his brother Henry Lara.
Servic…
Man Crushed To Death Between Car, Garage In Princeton: Police
A 61-year-old man was killed when he was pinned against a garage by a backing car, authorities said.
Meliton Hernandez-Morales of West New York died of his injuries at the scene of the crash at about 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29, Princeton police said.
Huimei Qiu, 53, of Princeton, was backing down a residential driveway on Red Hill Road when Hernandez-Morales, who was in the driveway, was struck, police said.
Hernandez-Morales was pinned against a detached garage, they said. Qiu was not hurt and no summonses had been issued.
The investigation is ongoing.
10 Firefighters Injured, 19 People Displaced By Thanksgiving Blaze On Bergenline (Update)
Ten firefighters were injured and 19 people were displaced in a West New York fire on Thanksgiving, authorities said.
The blaze at a fire at 5222 Bergenline Ave., located above the Marin Pharmacy, broke out around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 23, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.
Footage posted to the Citizen app shows shooting through a window of a building at the corner of 53rd Street.
During suppression efforts, 10 firefighters were injured, including two seriously, Suarez said. One firefighter remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, the prosecutor said.
Four c…
West New York Police Captain Stole $60K From Youth Academy: Prosecutor
A 49-year-old West New York police captain was charged with stealing from the West New York Youth Police Academy, which he helped raise money for, authorities said.
Erwin Moreno was arrested on Thursday, June 15 after an investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Internal Affairs Unit, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.
Between 2016 and 2023, Moreno stole $60,000 from the organization's funds for his own benefit, Suarez said. In 2019, Moreno organized a GoFundMe for the Youth Academy, raising more than $5,000 from 66 donors.
Moreno was charged with one count of theft …
US Postal Worker Assisted In Massive Cocaine Distribution Scheme, Hudson Prosecutor Says
A United States Postal Service worker has been charged for his role in a massive Hudson County cocaine distribution ring, authorities said.
James Belardo, 41, of West New York, faces second-degree conspiracy to distribute more than a half-ounce of cocaine, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.
Earlier this month, authorities announced the seizure of more than 4.4 pounds of cocaine, two handguns and high-capacity magazines from Belardo's co-defendants, Rowaldi Caceres, 39, and Hilda Membreno, 29, also both of West New York.
Membreno and Caceres were found with mor…
