Tag:

Prospect Park, NJ

Ex-Con Charged By FBI With Igniting Explosive Outside Passaic County ATM Ex-Con Charged By FBI With Igniting Explosive Outside Passaic County ATM
Ex-Con Charged By FBI With Igniting Explosive Outside Passaic County ATM A career criminal from Passaic County who's been busted dozens of times in North Jersey in just the past few years used an explosive device to damage an ATM, federal authorities charged. Nicolas Torres, 41, of Passaic, has amassed a lengthy rap sheet over much of his adult life, mostly involving business break-ins that local police and county prosecutors have dealt with. This time, though, the FBI's got him. Torres was captured on surveillance video igniting the device in front of the Chase Bank ATM on North 6th Street in Prospect Park in the early morning hours of July 5, 2022, U.S. Attor…
UPDATE: Lyft Driver From Morris Found Guilty Of Fondling Underage Prospect Park Passenger UPDATE: Lyft Driver From Morris Found Guilty Of Fondling Underage Prospect Park Passenger
Update: Lyft Driver From Morris Found Guilty Of Fondling Underage Prospect Park Passenger A former U.S. military member from Morris County was convicted of sexually assaulting a Passaic County pre-teen while working as a Lyft driver. Julio Mejia, 43, of Wharton rejected a plea deal after investigators said the underage Prospect Park girl told them he had sex with her after she took a Lyft ride in August 2019 and then again after several weeks of texting. He took his chances with a jury in Superior Court in Paterson and was convicted of sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, enticing and child endangerment. Superior Court Judge Joseph A. Portelli scheduled sentencing for Feb. …
New Year's Fire Consumes Multi-Family Paterson Building New Year's Fire Consumes Multi-Family Paterson Building
New Year's Fire Consumes Multi-Family Paterson Building A vicious New Year's fire blew through the roof of a Paterson apartment building. A firefighter was brought to St. Joseph's University Medical Center with a minor injury sustained in Sunday's 10 a.m. blaze on Harrison Street. The damage was nonetheless extensive, displacing dozens of residents -- while forcing others out temporarily -- in a tightly packed cluster of homes between Rosa Parks Boulevard and Carroll Street. 🚨 BREAKING VIDEO: LARGE FIRE IN PATERSON, NEW JERSEY pic.twitter.com/cPLVj36OvO — Breaking News Video (@BreakingVideoHQ) January 1, 2023 A second alarm was called on a…
Man Killed, Woman Critical In Shooting At Border Of Paterson, Prospect Park Man Killed, Woman Critical In Shooting At Border Of Paterson, Prospect Park
Man Killed, Woman Critical In Shooting At Border Of Paterson, Prospect Park A 45-year-old man was killed and a 28-year-old woman critically wounded in an overnight shooting at the border of Paterson and Prospect Park, authorities confirmed. Police responding to the shooting found both victims on the Paterson side of Belle Avenue off Hopper Street shortly before 2 a.m., Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Acting Paterson Police Chief Bert Ribeiro said in a joint announcement. Both were taken to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, where the man was pronounced dead, they said. Detectives from Valdes’s office and Ribeiro’s department were jointly inves…
Fire Destroys One North Jersey Home, Ravages Another Fire Destroys One North Jersey Home, Ravages Another
Fire Destroys One North Jersey Home, Ravages Another Firefighters from surrounding towns rushed to aid their colleagues in Prospect Park after a noontime house fire spread to a neighboring home. Initial reports of an occupant possibly trapped thankfully proved unfounded after the fire broke out on the second floor of the primary North 11 Street home, off Fairview Avenue, around 11:30 a.m. Council President Anand Shah called for prayers for those who lost their homes and belongings in the destructive blaze, which topped out at five alarms for coverage. Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah praised the first responders who braved not only the fire itse…
NJ Man Threatens To Kill Police Captain With Traffic Stop Ambush: Authorities NJ Man Threatens To Kill Police Captain With Traffic Stop Ambush: Authorities
NJ Man Threatens To Kill Police Captain With Traffic Stop Ambush: Authorities A Passaic County man was charged with threatening to lure a local police captain into a traffic stop so he could shoot him and chop his head off, authorities said. Jante Bagh, 41, called the Prospect Park Police Department on Tuesday and said he would lure the captain into a stop, “pop one in his head” and then cut it off, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said. Bagh, who lives in Prospect Park, was arrested and charged with making terroristic threats and harassment. He remained held Thursday in the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Cour…
Handcuffed Fugitive Who Jumped Into NJ River Was Wanted Out Of PA Handcuffed Fugitive Who Jumped Into NJ River Was Wanted Out Of PA
Handcuffed Fugitive Who Jumped Into NJ River Was Wanted Out Of PA A suspect who nearly drowned after jumping into the Passaic River while handcuffed was wanted in both Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, authorities said. Juan Castano, 29, of New York was a passenger in a car driven by a Paterson resident that Hawthorne police stopped in response to a call late Tuesday afternoon of two suspicious-looking men peering over the barbed wire fence of the Citywide Towing impound lot in Hawthorne. “People have previously jumped their fence and stolen vehicles that had been impounded due to being stolen,” Hawthorne Detective Lt. Matthew Hoogmoed said Thursday. Borou…
Judge Refuses To Release Newark Defendant Charged With Shooting Jersey Shore Man In Paterson Judge Refuses To Release Newark Defendant Charged With Shooting Jersey Shore Man In Paterson
Judge Refuses To Release Newark Defendant Charged With Shooting Jersey Shore Man In Paterson A state judge refused to release a defendant from Newark who was captured in New York City and charged with shooting a Jersey Shore man following a robbery in Paterson. The 27-year-old Sea Bright victim was shot near the corner of Putnam Street and Rosa Parks Boulevard on Jan. 8, 2021. He sought treatment at Riverside Medical Center in Red Bank without telling city police, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora said in a joint release. Red Bank police who were alerted to the shooting immediately notified their Paterson colleagues, they said.&n…
No Bail Reform In This Court: NJ Judge Orders Accused Shooter Held No Bail Reform In This Court: NJ Judge Orders Accused Shooter Held
No Bail Reform In This Court: NJ Judge Orders Accused Shooter Held A state court judge in Paterson has refused to release a Midland Park man charged in a Prospect Park shooting. That defendant, Rahjshone Newkirk, 23, and borough resident Tylaire Clark, 22, had been sought by police after two people reported being shot at on Hopper Street around 6 p.m. Feb. 2, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Prospect Park Police Chief Ammen Matari said in a joint release. Their vehicle was struck, but the victims’ weren’t wounded, they said. Borough police nabbed Newkirk on North 8th Street last Thursday, May 12.  Despite a state bail reform law that …
12th Gun Seized In Paterson Since April Follows Foot Pursuit 12th Gun Seized In Paterson Since April Follows Foot Pursuit
12th Gun Seized In Paterson Since April Follows Foot Pursuit A Paterson man hanging out in a large group partying on a local street corner was caught with a loaded handgun after he tried to run from detectives, authorities said. Joseph Shoulars, 22, bolted as Detectives John Rikowich, Levis Qirjako, Muhammed Dombayci and Yamil Pimienta approached the noisy crowd, which was drinking and blocking the road with double-parked vehicles at Belle Avenue and Hopper Street, city Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale said. "The intersection has recently been the subject of numerous complaints by both Paterson and Prospect Park residents due to large groups con…
HEROES: Paterson's Bravest Rescue Resident In Three-Building Blaze HEROES: Paterson's Bravest Rescue Resident In Three-Building Blaze
Heroes: Paterson's Bravest Rescue Resident In Three-Building Blaze UPDATE: A vicious blaze was engulfing one two-family home and significantly damaging two other residences -- displacing 26 tenants in all -- when Paterson firefighters rescued a resident in a wheelchair. PHOTO GALLERY: BTFirePhotos The four-alarm Warren Street fire broke out in one of the tightly bunched buildings up the street from Public School No. 10 shortly before 8 a.m. Sunday. It spread quickly. The city's bravest immediately got the trapped resident out before retreating to battle the blaze from the exterior. The main body of the fire was knocked down by 9:45 a.m., a little under …
NJ Girl, 13, Kidnapped, Raped By Long Island Man, 24, She Met Online, Authorities Say NJ Girl, 13, Kidnapped, Raped By Long Island Man, 24, She Met Online, Authorities Say
NJ Girl, 13, Kidnapped, Raped By Long Island Man, 24, She Met Online, Authorities Say A 13-year-old Paterson girl was picked up by a 24-year-old Long Island man she met online and taken to a remote area where he sexually assaulted her, authorities said. Floiran Langumas-Montero of Farmingdale traveled to New Jersey around midnight Oct. 29 for "the purpose of picking up and taking” the girl to an unidentified location in Prospect Park, where he “engaged in sexual intercourse” with her, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Prospect Park Police Chief Ammen Matari said in a joint release Friday. Langumas-Montero had “met and communicated with [her] online for several …
NJ Traffic Stop Turns Up Loaded Gun, 200 Heroin Folds, Crack, $1,547 Cash NJ Traffic Stop Turns Up Loaded Gun, 200 Heroin Folds, Crack, $1,547 Cash
NJ Traffic Stop Turns Up Loaded Gun, 200 Heroin Folds, Crack, $1,547 Cash A Haledon police officer found a 19-year-old Paterson man carrying a loaded gun, 200 heroin folds, a half-ounce of crack and $1,547 in proceeds during a traffic stop, authorities said. Officer Jeffrey Welsh stopped the Dodge Dart with Michigan license plates on Aberdeen Court after the driver failed to signal a turn shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday, Capt. George Guzman said. The driver – who turned out to be unlicensed -- also wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, he said. Welsh approached from the passenger side and spotted a brick of heroin jutting out of the front-seat passenger’s jacket pocket, the …
NJ Family Of 5 Loses Everything In Fierce Fire NJ Family Of 5 Loses Everything In Fierce Fire
NJ Family Of 5 Loses Everything In Fierce Fire UPDATE: Two cats were killed and another was missing in a destructive fire that ravaged a Hawthorne home, authorities said. A family of five -- including three children -- got out OK after the fire erupted on Victor Place around 7 p.m. Sunday, they said. They were evaluated on-scene by EMS. At the scene of the Victor Place fire in Hawthorne.DAILY VOICE The blaze immediately went to a second alarm before heavy flames and problems with water pressure boosted it to three, Hawthorne Fire Chief Jerry Speranza said. The roof was opened and the fire was eventually placed under control after…
Firefighters Battle North Jersey Blaze Firefighters Battle North Jersey Blaze
Firefighters Battle North Jersey Blaze UPDATE: Two cats were killed and another was missing in a destructive fire that ravaged a Hawthorne home, authorities said. A family of five -- including three children -- got out OK after the fire erupted on Victor Place around 7 p.m. Sunday, they said. They were evaluated on-scene by EMS. 76 Victor Place, HawthorneTom Tomesco The blaze immediately went to a second alarm before water problems and heavy flames boosted it to three, Hawthorne Fire Chief Jerry Speranza said. The roof was opened and the fire was eventually placed under control after about 90 minutes. Firefighters conti…
Right-Wing Anti-Vax, Anti-Mask Radio Show Host From NJ Dies Of COVID Right-Wing Anti-Vax, Anti-Mask Radio Show Host From NJ Dies Of COVID
Right-Wing Anti-Vax, Anti-Mask Radio Show Host From NJ Dies Of COVID Passaic County native Bob Enyart, a self-proclaimed homophobic anti-abortion pastor and national talk radio host who railed against COVID-19 vaccines and masks, has died of the virus. Enyart, 62, who lived in Prospect Park, attended St. Anthony grade school in Hawthorne and was graduated from Manchester Regional High School, was a polarizing figure over more than two decades on the air from his adopted Colorado. Enyart's radio co-host, Fred Williams, called the Denver Bible Church pastor "one of the smartest and without question the wisest person I’ve known," a man who he said was "exceedin…
AGAIN? Habitual Offender Charged With Burglarizing NJ Takeout Joint AGAIN? Habitual Offender Charged With Burglarizing NJ Takeout Joint
Again? Habitual Offender Charged With Burglarizing NJ Takeout Joint A Lodi career criminal with a rap sheet more than 15 years long was arrested after burglarizing a Prospect Park takeout restaurant before dawn Saturday, authorities said. Ryan Patrick Morgan, 34, has been arrested dozens of times in North Jersey since his 18th birthday, records show. Over that time, the tattooed ex-con has been busted in no fewer than seven towns on charges that include robbery, resisting arrest and aggravated assault on a police officer, as well as a string of drug court and probation violations. During a two-week span in 2017, Garfield police said, Morgan swiped a purse …
Passaic Driver Who Fled Serious Pedestrian Hit-Run Crash Gets Probation Passaic Driver Who Fled Serious Pedestrian Hit-Run Crash Gets Probation
Passaic Driver Who Fled Serious Pedestrian Hit-Run Crash Gets Probation UPDATE: A 27-year-old Passaic driver who admitted that he severely injured another city resident in a hit-and-run pedestrian crash last fall was sentenced Friday in Paterson to probation. Matthew Cancel didn’t wait for a grand jury to determine whether the case should proceed when he pleaded guilty to knowingly leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury on April 16, just 10 days after he was arrested. Cancel admitted that he was behind the wheel of a 2015 Mercedes-Benz that struck the 64-year-old victim at Market and Hudson streets last Oct. 25, Passaic County Prosecutor C…
Bergen Sports Memorabilia Store Employee Charged With Stealing, Fencing Collectibles Bergen Sports Memorabilia Store Employee Charged With Stealing, Fencing Collectibles
Bergen Sports Memorabilia Store Employee Charged With Stealing, Fencing Collectibles A now-former employee at a Bergen County collectibles and sports memorabilia store was busted after he stole and sold merchandise, authorities said. The owner of the Wyckoff shop called police after he reviewed security video and “determined that an employee was most likely responsible,” Lt. Joseph Soto said. Detective Sgts. Mark Tagliareni and Michael Ragucci tracked some of the items to a Moonachie business that bought them from Thomas Bowers, 33, of Prospect Park, Soto said. They also recovered other items stolen from the Wyckoff shop at another business in Randolph, the lieutenant said…
Mom, 53, Who Died Trying To Rescue Dog In Multi-Home Paterson Blaze Ran Local Food Stand Mom, 53, Who Died Trying To Rescue Dog In Multi-Home Paterson Blaze Ran Local Food Stand
Mom, 53, Who Died Trying To Rescue Dog In Multi-Home Paterson Blaze Ran Local Food Stand UPDATE: One of her five children had just pulled Felicia Hernandez De La Cruz out of their burning Paterson home when she suddenly rushed back inside to try and save their dog, witnesses said. The 53-year-old mom, who ran a local food stand that catered to the community, never made it out. "She was best known for her empanadas that she sold in front of her house," said Iris Lorenzo of Passaic. "She was so full of life and funny."  Authorities confirmed her death in the pre-dawn fire Sunday that displaced 47 residents from nine families and sent two firefighters to the hospital for tre…
Woman Dies Trying To Rescue Dog In Multi-Home Paterson Blaze, 2 Firefighters Hospitalized Woman Dies Trying To Rescue Dog In Multi-Home Paterson Blaze, 2 Firefighters Hospitalized
Woman Dies Trying To Rescue Dog In Multi-Home Paterson Blaze, 2 Firefighters Hospitalized UPDATE: One of her five children had just pulled Felicia Hernandez De La Cruz out of their burning Paterson home when she suddenly rushed back inside to try and save their dog, witnesses said. The 53-year-old mom, who ran a local food stand that catered to the community, never made it out. Authorities confirmed her death in the pre-dawn fire Sunday that displaced 47 residents from nine families and sent two firefighters to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Two 2½-story wood-frame homes on Summer Street were entirely consumed by flames and three others damaged, one severely, aft…
Paterson Councilman, Councilman-Elect, Two Others Charged With Election Fraud Paterson Councilman, Councilman-Elect, Two Others Charged With Election Fraud
Paterson Councilman, Councilman-Elect, Two Others Charged With Election Fraud State authorities on Thursday charged a sitting Paterson councilman, a councilman-elect and two other men with rigging a May 12 special election. Paterson City Councilman Michael Jackson and Councilman-Elect Alex Mendez conspired with Shelim Khalique of Wayne, and Abu Razyen of Prospect Park to play fast and loose with mail-in ballots made necessary for all voting in the special election due to the coronavirus pandemic, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. It began, he said, when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service alerted the Attorney General’s Office that hundreds of mail-in ballots wer…
UPDATE: Wind-Whipped Paterson Fire On Eve Of Mother's Day Burns 59 Residents Out Of Their Homes UPDATE: Wind-Whipped Paterson Fire On Eve Of Mother's Day Burns 59 Residents Out Of Their Homes
Update: Wind-Whipped Paterson Fire On Eve Of Mother's Day Burns 59 Residents Out Of Their Homes High winds whipped a roaring fire that tore through a Paterson neighborhood Saturday night, destroying five houses, severely damaging a sixth and displacing 59 residents. No injuries were reported in the Beech Street blaze, city Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale said. The Red Cross provided temporary shelter, food and clothing to the displaced. Fire officials who responded to the fire around 8:45 p.m. immediately called in a second alarm. What followed: In barely 10 minutes, three houses were involved and a third alarm was transmitted; A fourth alarm went out almost immediately afte…
Passaic Sheriff's Officer Helps Haledon Police Nab Fleeing Overnight Car Burglary Suspect Passaic Sheriff's Officer Helps Haledon Police Nab Fleeing Overnight Car Burglary Suspect
Passaic Sheriff's Officer Helps Haledon Police Nab Fleeing Overnight Car Burglary Suspect A Passaic County sheriff's officer helped Haledon police chase down a car burglary suspect wanted for several area break-ins before dawn Saturday, authorities said. Sgt. Michael Susen and Officers Semir Celoski and April Latona were responding to a call of break-ins on Cliff Street when they spotted Geremy Pulinario, 19, of Passaic at the corner of West Broadway and Burhans Avenue and ordered him to stop, Lt. George Guzman said. Pulinario bolted, jumping several fences, Guzman said. Borough officers got help establishing a perimeter from, among others Prospect Park and William Paterson pol…
Possible Coronavirus Exposure Warning Linked To Passaic County Adult Day Care Center Possible Coronavirus Exposure Warning Linked To Passaic County Adult Day Care Center
Possible Coronavirus Exposure Warning Linked To Passaic County Adult Day Care Center Paterson health officials on Thursday urged anyone who visited an adult day care center in Haledon within the past two weeks to contact their local health department because of potential coronavirus exposure. The warning applies to all senior or adult city residents who visited the Diamond Years Adult Day Care on Clifton Street during the last two weeks in March or on Wednesday. Those who live in Paterson, Totowa, North Haledon, Prospect Park or Hawthorne are asked to contact the city of Paterson Division of Health at (973) 321-1277. Leave a message with your name and phone number and a Pa…
Fire Ravages Haledon Apartment Building Fire Ravages Haledon Apartment Building
Fire Ravages Haledon Apartment Building Firefighters battled a Sunday blaze that severely damaged a Haledon apartment building. The second-floor fire across the cockloft of the Belmont Avenue building, partially collapsing the roof and dropping part of the flaming cornice and soffit into the street. No injuries were reported in the fire, which went to three alarms for coverage after igniting around 4:30 p.m. There was no immediate word on how many people were displaced. Assisting Haledon firefighters at the scene or in coverage were their colleagues from Franklin Lakes, Paterson, Prospect Park, Wayne and Wyckoff, among others…
VIDEO: See Firefighters Battle Furious Clifton Blaze That Killed Animals, Displaced 21 People VIDEO: See Firefighters Battle Furious Clifton Blaze That Killed Animals, Displaced 21 People
Video: See Firefighters Battle Furious Clifton Blaze That Killed Animals, Displaced 21 People UPDATE: A videographer captured vivid images of firefighters battling an intense blaze that consumed a large Clifton multi-family building, killing a dog and a cat, among other animals, and driving 21 people from their homes. The six-alarm blaze broke out on the upper floor of a three-apartment Lexington Avenue home next to a Clifton Avenue gas station around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. It quickly went to two alarms as firefighters who arrived within moments climbed portable ladders looking for occupants and thick black smoke poured into the sky. They rescued one woman who apparently was preparin…
Firefighters Battle Furious Clifton Blaze Firefighters Battle Furious Clifton Blaze
Firefighters Battle Furious Clifton Blaze UPDATE: Firefighters rescued a woman while others fled from danger during an intense blaze that consumed a large Clifton multi-family building, killing a dog and a cat and driving 21 people from their homes. The six-alarm blaze broke out on the upper floor of a three-apartment Lexington Avenue home next to a Clifton Avenue gas station around 2:30 p.m. It quickly went to two alarms as firefighters who arrived within moments climbed portable ladders looking for occupants and thick black smoke poured into the sky. They rescued one woman who apparently was preparing to jump from a second floo…