Light Rain 41°
Police & Fire
Firefighters Battle Vacant Building Blaze On Frequently Struck Paterson Street Firefighters Battle Vacant Building Blaze On Frequently Struck Paterson Street
Firefighters Battle Vacant Building Blaze On Frequently Struck Paterson Street A Paterson street that's had more than its share of late-night fires in multi-family houses had another last night. Flames began quickly spreading on the second floor of a vacant 2½-story building on Lafayette Street just off Rosa Parks Boulevard shortly after 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23, responders said. It quickly extended to the third floor and forced firefighters into an exterior attic while threatening a twin home next door. Fire officials asked NJ TRANSIT to temporarily close the elevated railway above Lafayette Street. Firefighters doused hot spots past midnight. No one was found ins…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Smoky Fire Closes Route 46 Popeyes Smoky Fire Closes Route 46 Popeyes
Smoky Fire Closes Route 46 Popeyes Firefighters doused an overnight blaze Thursday at the Popeyes Louisiana Chicken restaurant on westbound Route 46 in Lodi. The smoky fire broke out in the kitchen shortly before 1 a.m. Oct. 19, roughly two hours after closing time. Firefighters had it under control within a half hour.  No injuries were reported. Firefighters doused the Popeyes blaze on Route 46 in Lodi in just under a half hour.Mark Adamczyk Mutual aid was provided by firefighters from Saddle Brook, Maywood and Rochelle Park. The County Wide Emergency Response Team provided canteen services. The fire was containe…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Sedan Pinballs In Route 80 Crash With Tractor-Trailer: NJSP Sedan Pinballs In Route 80 Crash With Tractor-Trailer: NJSP
Sedan Pinballs In Route 80 Crash With Tractor-Trailer: Njsp A driver was seriously injured when his sedan collided with a tractor-trailer on Route 80 in Saddle Brook, hit a guard rail off the shoulder and then bounded back into the center divider, New Jersey State Police said. The Mazda driven by Carlos Encarnacion, 33, of Elmwood Park, and the Freightliner tractor semi-trailer were both headed west when the impact sent the Mazda off the road to the right and into the guardrail at milepost 62.2 shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, NJSP Detective I Jeffrey Lebron said. The sedan then slammed into the highway's concrete divider, he said. Encarnaci…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Visitor, 68, Injured In Kessler Elevator Accident Visitor, 68, Injured In Kessler Elevator Accident
Visitor, 68, Injured In Kessler Elevator Accident A 68-year-old visitor to the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in Saddle Brook had to be hospitalized Thursday night after an elevator accident, authorities said. Authorities are trying to determine what exactly happened around 7 p.m. Sept. 28, said Police Capt. John Zotollo, the officer in charge of the department. The victim was riding the elevator with his adult son, having visited a relative at the Market Street facility, when the door opened and his arm and leg got stuck between floors, the captain said. "The cause is unknown at this time," Zotollo said shortly before 9:30 p.m. …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Lab Tech Charged With Assaulting Pre-Teen: Bergen Prosecutor Lab Tech Charged With Assaulting Pre-Teen: Bergen Prosecutor
Lab Tech Charged With Assaulting Pre-Teen: Bergen Prosecutor An accused child abuser from Saddle Brook had just been booked into the Bergen County Jail when a judge in Hackensack released him, records show. Victor Morales, a 32-year-old lab tech, “physically assaulted a child under the age of 13 years old who was in his care,” Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Saddle Brook police alerted his Special Victims Unit detectives to the child abuse report on Tuesday, Aug. 22, the prosecutor said. They took Morales into custody, then charged him with aggravated assault and child endangerment, Musella said. Morales was booked into the county jail …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Bergen Wedding Photog Busted With Gun At Lodi Bar: Police Bergen Wedding Photog Busted With Gun At Lodi Bar: Police
Bergen Wedding Photog Busted With Gun At Lodi Bar: Police A well-known wedding photographer from Bergen County was arrested after police said he left a gun on the bar while going out to smoke a cigarette at a Lodi tavern. Patrons told police responding to a 911 call at the Hilltop Bar on Essex Street that they could clearly see the gun inside a satchel that Nicholas Gagliano, 35, had left behind while he ducked out for a smoke shortly after 2:30 a.m. Aug. 5, Lodi Police Sgt. Dominic Miller said. The officers secured the 9mm Springfield Armory XDS – which wasn’t loaded – and took Gagliano into custody, the sergeant said. Gagliano, of Saddle Brook,…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
UPDATE: Resident, 80, Hospitalized, Son Arrested In Destructive Rochelle Park Blaze UPDATE: Resident, 80, Hospitalized, Son Arrested In Destructive Rochelle Park Blaze
Update: Resident, 80, Hospitalized, Son Arrested In Destructive Rochelle Park Blaze An 80-year-old woman was hospitalized and her ex-con son arrested as firefighters doused a smoky Tuesday morning blaze that ravaged their Rochelle Park home. Carmine Covino, 55, was taken into custody after he interfered with responders trying to take his mother, Concetta, to Hackensack University Medical Center after she suffered smoke inhalation, Rochelle Park Police Lt. Edward Kukalski said. Covino, a registered sex offender with a lengthy rap sheet, "ignored several warnings" before officers were left no choice, the lieutenant said. Witnesses said Covino -- who Kukalski said sustained…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Firefighters Douse Smoky Rochelle Park Blaze Firefighters Douse Smoky Rochelle Park Blaze
Firefighters Douse Smoky Rochelle Park Blaze An 80-year-old resident was hospitalized and her ex-con son arrested as firefighters doused a smoky Tuesday morning blaze that ravaged their Rochelle Park home. Carmine Covino, 55, was taken into custody after he interfered with responders trying to take his mother, Concetta, to Hackensack University Medical Center after she suffered smoke inhalation, Rochelle Park Police Lt. Edward Kukalski said. Covino, a registered sex offender with a lengthy rap sheet, "ignored several warnings" before officers were left no choice, the lieutenant said. Witnesses said Covino -- who Kukalski said sustai…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Business
Dollar General Celebrating Remodeled Market Stores In North Jersey (UPDATED) Dollar General Celebrating Remodeled Market Stores In North Jersey (UPDATED)
Dollar General Celebrating Remodeled Market Stores In North Jersey (Updated) Get your George Washington's out. Dollar General is opening a new version of its store in Bergen County. The discount retailer announced they are holding two grand opening celebrations for its Dollar General Market  market  in Saddle Brook and North Arlington on Saturday, August 12. The stores were previously Dollar Generals.  The Saddle Brook event will be held at 8 a.m. at 419 Market St. while the North Arlington event will be held at 10 a.m. at 11 River Road Suite 35 at 10 a.m. Each celebration will include $10 gift cards to the first 50 adult customers and DG tote ba…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Fire Doused At Elmwood Park Entertainment Company Fire Doused At Elmwood Park Entertainment Company
Fire Doused At Elmwood Park Entertainment Company Firefighters doused a basement blaze Tuesday at an Elmwood Park entertainment company. The fire at Sound Surge on Market Street ignited around 10:30 a.m. Aug. 1 and quickly went to three alarms as a precaution because of where in the building it was located, Elmwood Park Police Chief and Borough Administrator Michael Foligno said. "It was difficult to get to, but our firefighters did an excellent job of knocking it down quickly," he said. They had to back out after flames began climbing the interior stairs, but they still had the fire doused in barely a half-hour. No injuries were report…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Saddle Brook Firefighters Limit Damage From Kitchen Blaze Saddle Brook Firefighters Limit Damage From Kitchen Blaze
Saddle Brook Firefighters Limit Damage From Kitchen Blaze Saddle Brook firefighters quickly doused a kitchen blaze on Monday, limiting the damage. The two-alarm fire broke out in the rear of the Congress Street home off Rochelle Parkway near westbound Route 80 shortly before 8 a.m. July 31. Firefighters forced their way in and got water on the flames while searching and ventilating the home. The fire was knocked down and under control in minutes. The Saddle Brook Fire Department urged all citizens to use smoke detectors and to be sure to dial 911 immediately to report any emergencies.

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Social Worker From Saddle Brook Charged With Sexually Assaulting Pre-Teen In Midland Park Social Worker From Saddle Brook Charged With Sexually Assaulting Pre-Teen In Midland Park
Social Worker From Saddle Brook Charged With Sexually Assaulting Pre-Teen In Midland Park A licensed social worker from Saddle Brook was charged with sexually assaulting a pre-teen in Midland Park. Jonathan Barrios, 27, remained held in the Bergen County Jail on Monday following his arrest on sexual assault and child endangerment charges on Friday, July 14. Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Midland Park police notified members of his Special Victims Unit about the allegations and together they investigated. The prosecutor thanked borough police for their assistance.

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by Jerry DeMarco