Arrests in frightening armed robberies throughout North Jersey

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: A SWAT team nabbed two accused stickup men who terrorized employees and customers at gas stations, liquor stores and convenience marts throughout North Jersey — and grazed a police officer with a bullet. A West New York man is charged with helping plan the robberies.

Jerry DeMarco

06/06/2010 5:17 p.m.

Otero, left, and Cagen

In custody on various armed robbery and weapons charges are Nelson Otero, of Fort Lee, and Maxcime Cagen, of Floral Park, N.Y., both 46, after SWAT team officers from Bergen and Passaic counties boxed in Otero’s car in Palisades Park early this morning, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said.

Maxcime Cagen was carrying a loaded .9mm semi-automatic handgun, and assorted ammunition, a ballistic vest, and clothing that matched those in the robberies were found in Otero’s car, Molinelli said.

In Otero’s home, investigators found a loaded .45-caliber semi automatic handgun, more holdup clothing, drug paraphernalia and cartons of cigarettes believed taken during the robberies, he said.

Both also are being charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault in the shooting of the Wayne Police Officer Brian Worell, who was grazed by a bullet when he interrupted a holdup on May 10. (See: Wayne officer grazed by bullet and Reward offered)

Molinelli said Otero and Cagen are responsible for over a dozen holdups in Bergen, Passaic and surrounding counties, and are part of a crew out of the Bronx that have held up several other businesses.

What’s more, Otero is wanted by the NYPD in connection with a Queens homicide on Saturday.

Ordonez

Two other men are charged with helping plan the holdups. Molinelli identified them as Hugh Hodge, also 46, of East Stroudsburg, PA and Alfredo Ordonez, 33, of 54th Street in West New York.

Various agencies melded into a “multi-jurisdictional task force” to crack the case, Molinelli said. The included his office, the Passaic and Hudson county prosecutor’s offices, the Wayne Police Department, the Bergen and Passaic county SWAT teams, the Bergen and Passaic County sheriff’s departments, and the Elmwood Park, Fair Lawn, Hackensack and Paramus police departments.

Although Otero and Cagen are being held on $750,000 bail on the Bergen offenses , Molinelli expects that to be bumped up “in the $1,000,000 range“ once the Passaic crimes are tied in.

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