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Local Detectives Secretly Follow Porch Pirate On His 'Rounds,' Bust Him Selling Stolen Sneakers Local Detectives Secretly Follow Porch Pirate On His 'Rounds,' Bust Him Selling Stolen Sneakers
Local Detectives Secretly Follow Porch Pirate On His 'Rounds,' Bust Him Selling Stolen Sneakers A porch pirate from Passaic snatched a pair of Nikes from a home, then headed to a local thrift shop to sell them -- and was promptly busted by Wallington police detectives who'd been watching him the entire time, authorities said. 'Tis the season for package thefts, as well as for undercover police operations aimed at stopping them. In Wallington, detectives investigating an "uptick" in porch piracy identified a narrow time frame and area, along with a description of a suspect and the vehicle he was driving, Capt. Shawn Kudlacik said Tuesday. Detectives Joseph Rock, Simon Popek and Brian …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Wallington Mom, Paterson Man Charged With Murder In Death Of 8-Month-Old Wallington Mom, Paterson Man Charged With Murder In Death Of 8-Month-Old
Wallington Mom, Paterson Man Charged With Murder In Death Of 8-Month-Old A 20-year-old Wallington woman and an accused heroin dealer from Paterson were both charged with murder in the death of her 8-month-old baby. Ashley Roman and Joshua Delgado, 22, brought the infant to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center on Oct. 25, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim M. Baycora said in a joint announcement. The child died soon after, they said without elaborating on the cause or circumstances. The New Jersey Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide, Valdes and Baycora said. Both Roman and Delgado, who they said i…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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Former Bergen County Election Worker Accused Of Pre-Teen Sex Assaults Dies From Suicide Former Bergen County Election Worker Accused Of Pre-Teen Sex Assaults Dies From Suicide
Former Bergen County Election Worker Accused Of Pre-Teen Sex Assaults Dies From Suicide A former assistant Bergen County voting machine custodian from Wallington who was accused of sexually assaulting two pre-teens has died by suicide, multiple sources confirmed Saturday. Daryl Mahoney, 51, survived a previous attempt at the county jail following his arrest in March. This time, as before, it was by hanging, authorities confirmed. Mahoney was rushed from the jail on South River Street to nearby Hackensack University Medical Center shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday, multiple sources said. He remained in critical condition before being pronounced dead late Friday, they said. …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Bark Knights: Bergen Sheriff's K-9s Put On A Show Bark Knights: Bergen Sheriff's K-9s Put On A Show
Bark Knights: Bergen Sheriff's K-9s Put On A Show Every dog has his day, they say, and the four-legged members of the Bergen County Sheriff's K-9 Unit shared theirs on Saturday with dozens of mostly young attendees and their parents at Overpeck Park. Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton joined the event, as a dozen highly-trained canines handled by two sergeants, seven officers and the lieutenant in charge of the unit raised the woof. They got a big round of a paws from the kids, who received collectible cards of the officers and entered raffles to win unit t-shirts and a Chromebook. Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the Bergen Co…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Fire Consumes Little Ferry Auto Body Shop Fire Consumes Little Ferry Auto Body Shop
Fire Consumes Little Ferry Auto Body Shop A worker was injured when a fierce fire blew through an auto body shop Saturday afternoon in Little Ferry, authorities said. The blaze broke out at Chizzy's Truck & Auto Repair on Bergen Turnpike off Route 46 around 2 p.m. It quickly went to two alarms. A worker sustained minor burns and was having trouble breathing, Police Chief James Walters said. Firefighters continued dousing flames.DAILY VOICE Several area departments provided mutual aid either at the scene or in coverage -- among them, Hackensack, Hasbrouck Heights, East Rutherford, Carlstadt, Wallington, Moonachie and Ridge…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
HEROES: Pets Rescued In Fierce Lodi Fire HEROES: Pets Rescued In Fierce Lodi Fire
Heroes: Pets Rescued In Fierce Lodi Fire Firefighters rescued several pets during a blaze that blew through a Lodi home. The fire broke out on the first floor of the Westervelt Place home between 1st and Charles street just before 6 p.m. Monday. It quickly went to two alarms -- three for coverage. AftermathJo Fehl Everyone got out OK and no injuries were reported. Among those providing mutual aid at the scene were firefighters from Garfield, Hasbrouck Heights and Wallington. Companies from Rochelle Park, Saddle Brook and Wood-Ridge provided coverage. Flames raced through the Westervelt Place home in Lodi.Daniel Wixon …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Obituaries
Bergen County Native Jorge Merced Jr. Dies Suddenly, 21 Bergen County Native Jorge Merced Jr. Dies Suddenly, 21
Bergen County Native Jorge Merced Jr. Dies Suddenly, 21 Longtime Bergen County resident Jorge Merced Jr. died suddenly on Oct. 6. He was 21 years old. The Garfield native was a student at William Paterson University in Wayne and worked at GNC in Wallington, according to his obituary. More than $6,700 had been raised on a GoFundMe for the family as of Wednesday. "We are writing to you today to let you know of the sudden and unexpected passing of Jorge Merced Jr," the page reads. "Jorge was a wonderful son, brother, nephew, cousin and friend who brought joy to those around him. "We are absolutely heartbroken and devastated by Jorge’s p…

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by Cecilia Levine
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Fire Keeps Ski Slope At American Dream Mega Mall In Meadowlands Closed For Now Fire Keeps Ski Slope At American Dream Mega Mall In Meadowlands Closed For Now
Fire Keeps Ski Slope At American Dream Mega Mall In Meadowlands Closed For Now UPDATE: The indoor ski slope at the American Dream mega malls in the Meadowlands will remain closed until at least the end of this coming week following a fire that drew nearly 20 companies before dawn Saturday. "We can promise you that Big SNOW will be back and better than ever, just as soon as we can safely do so," an Instagram post by the company read. "At this point, we are uncertain of how long that will take." Firefighters doused the electrical blaze, which caused severe fire damage to the roof and ceiling and smoke damage elsewhere in the East Rutherford attraction after breaking ou…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Pre-Dawn Blaze Damages Ski Slope At American Dream Mega Mall Pre-Dawn Blaze Damages Ski Slope At American Dream Mega Mall
Pre-Dawn Blaze Damages Ski Slope At American Dream Mega Mall UPDATE: The indoor ski slope at the American Dream mega malls in the Meadowlands will remain closed until at least the end of this coming week following a fire that drew nearly 20 companies before dawn Saturday. "We can promise you that Big SNOW will be back and better than ever, just as soon as we can safely do so," an Instagram post by the company read. "At this point, we are uncertain of how long that will take." Firefighters doused the electrical blaze, which caused severe fire damage to the roof and ceiling and smoke damage elsewhere in the East Rutherford attraction after breaking ou…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Prosecutor: Owner, Husband, Employees Busted In Raid On Bergen Pot 'Dispensary' Prosecutor: Owner, Husband, Employees Busted In Raid On Bergen Pot 'Dispensary'
Prosecutor: Owner, Husband, Employees Busted In Raid On Bergen Pot 'Dispensary' Authorities raided a DIY storefront pot dispensary in Bergen County that they said was operated by a local couple who sold marijuana and THC products to the general public without a license. Jaime Costanzo, who was listed as the owner/operator, and her husband, Michael Delmoral, both 40 of Wallington, were busted after detectives posing as customers bought pot and other items at THC JARZ on River Road in Garfield, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Monday afternoon. Also arrested were two store cashiers, he said. Detectives from Musella’s Narcotic Task Force, along with police from…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Father, Son Killed, Mom, 66, Critical In North Arlington House Fire Father, Son Killed, Mom, 66, Critical In North Arlington House Fire
Father, Son Killed, Mom, 66, Critical In North Arlington House Fire UPDATE: A father and son were killed and the mom rescued in a pre-dawn house fire in North Arlington, authorities said. Furious CPR efforts on the 75-year-old father and his 44-year-old son on the front lawn of the 9th Street home were fruitless after the three-alarm fire trapped them shortly after 4 a.m. Friday, Police Chief Scott Hedenberg said. Safwat F. Saad and his son, Maged Saad, were both pronounced dead at the scene, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. The mother, Amal Z. Saad, 66, was taken to Clara Maas Medical Center in Belleville in critical condition after responders …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Body Recovered From Passaic River Body Recovered From Passaic River
Body Recovered From Passaic River Authorities were trying to identify the body of an apparently homeless man who drowned Saturday in the Passaic River. Witnesses said the man didn't know how to swim, ignored friends' insistence that he not go in, then went under in a deep pond on the Clifton side of the river, Clifton Deputy Fire Chief Craig Hopkins said. Rescue teams from Clifton, Passaic and Wallington put boats in the water before a Bergen County Office of Emergency Management drone helped locate the body south of the Dundee Dam. The victim had apparently been in the water more than an hour and a half before authorities…

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by Jerry DeMarco