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Allan Pelcak Jr., 41, originally was released after 12 hours of questioning following the late September attack on his ex-wife, Laura Matousek at the Sheraton Crossroads.
But at 10 this morning the detectives, with help from their counteparts in Rockland County, arrested Pelcak in front of at his Westcheser County home on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, weapons offenses, tampering with evidence and possession of child pornography and a stun gun.
He was arraigned this afternoon in Ramapo Justice Court and ordered held without bail. Authorities will move to have him extradited early next week, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
“He stood crying, his body shaking, his hands shackled at the waist, wearing jeans and sneakers during his court appearance,” wrote Steve Lieberman of LoHud.com.
Matousek remained in a coma for several weeks. Since then, “she has made great strides toward recovery, having had numerous additional surgeries and extensive rehabilitation,” said Molinelli, the prosecutor.
“The Matousek-Pelcak family is extremely gratified to learn there has been an arrest in this matter,” attorney Peter Jameson told Lieberman. “The entire family remains focused on assisting in Ms. Pelcak’s recovery from this vicious attack and helping the children have as healthy, holiday season as possible under the circumstances.”
The family also praised the efforts of the Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli’s Office.
IMPORTANT ALERT: The vehicle used to attack Matousek hasn’t been found. If you have any idea where it is, please contact Mahwah Police Department Detective Kevin Hebert at 201-529-1000 or the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit: 201-226-5500.
The couple have been divorced about 2 1/2 years, with Matousek retaining custody of their two children, ages 8 and 5.
Rockland County Court records show that Matousek won an $11,544 judgment against Pelcak for failing to pay child support from 2007. Records also reveal that bank-foreclosure proceedings began in August on the Valley Cottage home they bought in May 2005 for $440,000.
Laura Matousek, 46, had been waiting to be picked up in a car pool in the parking lot area of the Sheraton Crossroads when she was attacked around 8:30 that morning.
Witnesses reported seeing a man jump out of an SUV or truck matching the description of Pelcak’s, attack Matousek and then run over her. Authorities began looking for Pelcak soon after.
Matousek underwent surgery for several stab wounds and broken bones.
Hour laters, local police and Molinelli’s detectives saw Pelcak walking near a relative’s home in the Rockland County town of West Haverstraw. Pelcak voluntarily went with the prosecutors investigators for an interview that lasted through the night and past dawn, Molinelli said.
Fearing for the safety of the couple’s two children, Mahwah police earlier in the day had called their counterparts in Clarkstown. The youngsters were found OK.
However, the school they attend — Liberty Elementary in Valley Cottage — was put into lockdown. At dismissal, the youngsters reportedly were escorted to buses and cars by adults. Two Clarkstown police cruisers followed one of the buses off school grounds.
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