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Jean C. Peguero
Jean C. Peguero, 25, was already wanted on two outstanding warrants when detectives showed up at the Union City housing project where the three live around 2 o’clock, records show.
In a coordinated move, undercover officers from Union City and the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office stopped him as he and another man were walking his pit bull on West Street, records show.
After checking the 26-year-old companion for warrants, they let him go — with the dog — and walked Peguero back to the taxpayer-subsidized housing project.
Officers with search warrants were already waiting at the apartment, a law enforcement source with direct knowledge of the case told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. With them was “Mugsy,” a drug-sniffing dog.
Police said Mugsy found the marijuana packaged for sale and even pointed them toward the cash, wrapped in rubber bands and stashed in a safe in a bedroom closet. They also found a digital scale that they said Jean Peguero used to sell dime bags in the neighborhood, along with plastic bags and other items used to bundle and sell pot.
Police also arrested Peguero’s sister, Carlene, and their 54-year-old mother, Ingrid M. Decastro, who, records show, works as a crossing guard for the Union City Board of Education.
Both women were released on summonses for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, records show. Just before midnight, Peguero made $5,000 bail set by Municipal Court Judge Lilia Munoz.
Records show Peguero was arrested on May 28, 2006 during a fight with a woman outside a Seaside Park 7-Eleven. He later filed a federal lawsuit against borough police there, contending that officers punched him and later kicked him the groin, injuring his right testicle, when he complained about his treatment in the lockup.
Seaside Park Police said they had to subdue Peguero after he become violent. They said he was still kicking even after they handcuffed him.
However, the borough’s insurance carrier settled the case with no admission of wrongdoing on either side. Sources said Peguero emerged $300,000 richer.
Four years later, he filed another federal suit — this time against Union City police.
Peguero said a blow to the head by an officer during an arrest in the same projects caused a seizure weeks later. The officer said he hit Peguero once during the arrest, primarily to prevent him from giving orders to the pit bull. Despite several commands, the officer said, Peguero refused to release the animal to a relative so they could handcuff him on drug distribution charges.
The civil rights lawsuit is still pending in U.S. District Court in Newark.
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