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Brush Fire Ravages 19 Acres On Palisades: Firefighters Battle Blaze Amid Statewide Restrictions
Firefighters are battling a 19-acre brush fire that erupted Thursday night, Nov. 7, on the cliffs of the Palisades Interstate Park.
Visible from across the Hudson River, the blaze has turned the scenic cliffs into an intense battle zone, with flames licking at the steep, rocky terrain and sending plumes of smoke billowing into the evening sky.
The fire, fueled by dry brush and challenging cliffside conditions, remains only 30% contained as of Friday morning, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Crews from Fort Lee, Englewood, Ridgefield, Leonia, Edgewater, and more have jo…
Home Invaders Posed As Police Officers, Restrained Children In Bergen County House: Prosecutor
A New York trio has been arrested in connection with a home invasion earlier this month in Bergen County, authorities said.
Diogenes A. Rosario, 49, of New York, NY; Leonel Perez, 38, of New York, NY; and Misael Diaz, 38, of Yonkers, broke into a multi-family home on Crescent Lane in Cliffside Park around 1:50 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.
All three were wearing dark-colored clothing and facemasks, and were outwardly displaying imitation police-style badges, portraying themselves as police officers, Musella said.
Once inside, the suspects fo…
Former Fire Chief Indicted In Crash That Killed Teen Girl: Bergen County Prosecutor
The 61-year-old man and former chief of a local fire department has been indicted in a crash that left a 15-year-old girl dead, authorities in Bergen County said.
Timothy Moots, formerly a longtime member of the Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department, was operating the Chevrolet Silverado when he struck and killed Serenity Law, 15, of Ridgefield, who was on an electric scooter just before 7:40 p.m. Sunday, April 14, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.
On Monday, Sept. 23, Musella said that Moots "made misleading statements to law enforcement in an attempt to minimize his involvement…
Attempted Murder: Bergen Man Chokes, Tries To Sexually Assault Pre-Teen: Authorities
A 33-year-old Ridgefield man choked a Fairview pre-teen “to the point of unconsciousness” and had removed both his and the incapacitated child's clothes before he was stopped, authorities said.
Julio Amaro-Vasquez, who lives on Bergen Boulevard just off Oakdene Avenue, was charged with attempted murder, attempted aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault, attempted sexual assault by contact and child endangerment.
He wasn't the only person arrested in connection with the alleged incident, however.
Amaro-Vasquez's girlfriend, Marlin Cervantes Santos, 30, of Fairview, “directed…
Ridgefield Man Shot In Hawthorne, Local Resident Charged
A 32-year-old Ridgefield man was shot in Hawthorne over the weekend, said authorities who made an arrest.
The victim was treated at the scene and didn’t require further medical treatment following the 10:37 p.m. shooting on Wagner Place near Midland Avenue on Saturday, Sept. 16, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Hawthorne Police Chief James W. Knepper said.
Angel Alberto, 34, of Hawthorne, surrendered to Hawthorne police on Sunday, they said.
Alberto, formerly of Paterson, remained held Monday in the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing…
Ex-Con Kidnapper Gets 43 Years, No Parole, For Rape, Arson, Assault Rampage Through NJ, NY, PA
UPDATE: An ex-con who kidnapped and raped his ex-girlfriend in Pennsylvania, then torched a used car dealership in Paterson and rammed a stolen SUV into police cars at both ends of the George Washington Bridge was sentenced to 43 years in federal prison.
Luis Figueroa, 42, first took a plea deal from the government that called for him to serve 26 years in a federal penitentiary.
Then he abruptly withdrew his plea, took his chances with a trial – and lost.
Federal jurors in Newark convicted Figueroa in May 2022 of kidnapping, criminal sexual abuse, illegal gun possession and assaulting…