Federal Jurors Convict Ex-Paterson Police Sergeant Of Civil Rights Violations Federal Jurors Convict Ex-Paterson Police Sergeant Of Civil Rights Violations
Federal Jurors Convict Ex-Paterson Police Sergeant Of Civil Rights Violations UPDATE: A federal jury convicted a now-former Paterson police sergeant of stealing money from a suspect, then lying on reports to protect himself and his department accomplices. The guilty verdicts against Michael Cheff, 51, of Oakland on Thursday followed a five-day trial in U.S. District Court in Newark. They also prompted a statement from Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh: "Michael Cheff was fired [Thursday]. His trial revealed sickening and horrific acts committed by former officers who violated their oath to protect and serve. Paterson has taken significant steps to root out such conduct an…
Nearly 10 Pounds Of Pot Found In Haledon Pickup Stop: Bergen Driver, NY Passenger Arrested Nearly 10 Pounds Of Pot Found In Haledon Pickup Stop: Bergen Driver, NY Passenger Arrested
Nearly 10 Pounds Of Pot Found In Haledon Pickup Stop: Bergen Driver, NY Passenger Arrested A driver not wearing a seatbelt led to the discovery of nearly 10 pounds of pot and the arrests of two men -- one from Bergen County, the other from New York State -- Haledon police said. Officers Jeffrey Welsh and Kris Duci stopped the 2008 Dodge Ram near the corner of Central Avenue and Ailsa avenues, Capt. George Guzman said. The officers got conflicting statements from both men, who'd been acting suspiciously, Guzman said. They also smelled what they believed was PCP in the pickup, which didn't have an inspection sticker, he said. A Passaic County sheriff's K9 was summoned and gave an …
Feds: Bergen Pill Mill Doc Who Called Himself 'El Chapo Of Opioids' Gets 6 Years, No Parole Feds: Bergen Pill Mill Doc Who Called Himself 'El Chapo Of Opioids' Gets 6 Years, No Parole
Feds: Bergen Pill Mill Doc Who Called Himself 'El Chapo Of Opioids' Gets 6 Years, No Parole A Bergen County doctor who called himself the “El Chapo of Opioids” was sentenced to six years in federal prison for doling out pain killers like candy and fudging medical records to cover it up. Robert Delagente, 48, of Oakland, must serve out the entire plea-bargained sentence approved by a federal judge in Newark on Thursday, May 5, because there’s no parole in the federal prison system. Delagente, who’d practiced at North Jersey Family Medicine on Yawpo Avenue in Oakland, randomly wrote prescriptions for oxycodone, Percocet and more with no questions asked, then tried to cover his track…
Car Thieves Ram Police Vehicle While Fleeing Mahwah Neighborhood Car Thieves Ram Police Vehicle While Fleeing Mahwah Neighborhood
Car Thieves Ram Police Vehicle While Fleeing Mahwah Neighborhood A Mahwah police vehicle was struck overnight by car thieves fleeing a private community on the wrong side of the road. Township police responding to a stolen vehicle report had converged on Rio Vista when a gray Chrysler suddenly roared up Seminary Drive on the wrong side of the tree-lined median shortly before 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 2. The Chrysler hit the parked patrol car with its front driver's side as it reached Ramapo Valley Road (Route 202) and kept going. Police pursued the vehicle on Route 202 toward Oakland, then lost sight of it near Navajo Way. No serious injuries were reporte…
Tears Flow For NJ Mom, Non-Profit Founder Who Fought Fiercely For Kids With Disabilities Tears Flow For NJ Mom, Non-Profit Founder Who Fought Fiercely For Kids With Disabilities
Tears Flow For NJ Mom, Non-Profit Founder Who Fought Fiercely For Kids With Disabilities North Jersey single mom Joanne Bastante-Howard worked tirelessly for years to help provide critical resources for kids who, like her young son, John, have Down syndrome. Bastante-Howard, a former advertising and marketing whirlwind, was personally responsible for raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to help obtain critical medical, education and therapeutic services for those in need through the non-profit she founded, America's Special Kidz (A.S.K.). Parents of children with a wide range of circumstances -- including autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, and mitochondrial disease…
Sedan Lands Upside Down On Fence Off Route 208 Sedan Lands Upside Down On Fence Off Route 208
Sedan Lands Upside Down On Fence Off Route 208 A driver escaped serious injury when she rolled her sedan onto its roof atop a chain-link fence just off Route 208, authorities said. The 60-year-old Oakland motorist was hospitalized with neck and shoulder pain after Wyckoff firefighters freed her from the 2007 Toyota Camry, Police Lt. Joseph Soto said. She told police she was headed south on 208 shortly before 1 p.m. Saturday, March 26, when she swerved to avoid another vehicle and things literally went sideways. She lost control of the sedan, which Soto said slid across the highway and overturned on the shoulder, Soto said. No other …
His Kids Feared Ex-Russian Military Dad ‘Booby-Trapped’ His Bergen County Home, Police Say His Kids Feared Ex-Russian Military Dad ‘Booby-Trapped’ His Bergen County Home, Police Say
His Kids Feared Ex-Russian Military Dad ‘Booby-Trapped’ His Bergen County Home, Police Say Two children of a former Russian military member feared their suicidal father had booby-trapped their Bergen County home after losing $400,000 in the stock market, investigators said. Anatoly Zaytsev, 67, remained held in the county jail in Hackensack on Wednesday, March 23, more than two weeks after members of the county Bomb Squad and other responders converged on his Oakland home and seized rifles, high-capacity magazines and silencers. The incident reportedly began when Zaytsev’s son told borough police that his father surrendered five guns to him.  The son also told them the Ukra…
Oakland PD: DWI Driver From Franklin Lakes Kicks, Spits On Police Oakland PD: DWI Driver From Franklin Lakes Kicks, Spits On Police
Oakland PD: DWI Driver From Franklin Lakes Kicks, Spits On Police A DWI driver from Franklin Lakes was arrested after he kicked and spit at Oakland police, authorities said. Officers responding to a call of an erratic driver on Long Hill Road on Friday, March 11, spotted a Honda stopped at a green light, Capt. Timothy Keenan said. The driver, Nicholas Pellegrini, 26, was arrested following a field sobriety test and "became combative while being handcuffed," Keenan said. Pelligrini kicked one officer and spit on others while being subdued, the captain said. He was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, throwing bodily fluids at police, resi…
BOMB SQUAD: Assault Firearm, High-Capacity Mags, Silencer Seized, Oakland Resident, 67, Busted BOMB SQUAD: Assault Firearm, High-Capacity Mags, Silencer Seized, Oakland Resident, 67, Busted
Bomb Squad: Assault Firearm, High-Capacity Mags, Silencer Seized, Oakland Resident, 67, Busted A report of a man with illegal weapons brought the Bergen County Bomb Squad and local police to a quiet Oakland neighborhood where the 67-year-old owner was taken into custody without incident, authorities said. Police responding to a report from a concerned family member around 3:30 p.m. Monday, March 7, found an assault firearm, high-capacity magazines and a silencer at the Raeben Avenue home just off Route 202, Capt. Timothy Keenan said. They ended up charging Anatoly Zaytsev with unlawful possession of a weapon, of a large-capacity magazine and of a prohibited weapon/device, Kenne said.…
Police: Ambulance Worker Seriously Injured After Jumping Out Of Rig On Route 208 Police: Ambulance Worker Seriously Injured After Jumping Out Of Rig On Route 208
Police: Ambulance Worker Seriously Injured After Jumping Out Of Rig On Route 208 UPDATE: A 21-year-old private ambulance worker was seriously injured when he got out of the rig while it was moving during an argument on Route 208, authorities said. The incident "had been arguing with the driver" when he opened the front passenger door and exited the moving vehicle shortly after 1:30 p.m. Thursday on the southbound side of the highway between Ewing and Russell avenues in Wyckoff, Police Lt. Joseph Soto said. A passing responder stopped, grabbed a blanket and C-collar from the A&M Medical rig and assisted the victim, a motorist told Daily Voice. The responde…
Dozen Pets Rescued From Passaic County Owner's Side Days After Death Dozen Pets Rescued From Passaic County Owner's Side Days After Death
Dozen Pets Rescued From Passaic County Owner's Side Days After Death Eleven dogs and one cat were rescued from their owner’s side days after she passed away in her Passaic County home, officials said. The Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge (RBARI) and Second Chance Pet Adoption League joined forces to bring in the dozen animals in the "distressing" animal welfare situation in Haledon, rescuers said in a news release. "The owner of these twelve desperate animals had passed away days before they were discovered," officials said.  "When police arrived for a welfare check, they were shocked by the living conditions in the small, packed apartment. While their person l…
Paterson DWI Driver With Juvenile Passenger Jailed After Bergen Crash Paterson DWI Driver With Juvenile Passenger Jailed After Bergen Crash
Paterson DWI Driver With Juvenile Passenger Jailed After Bergen Crash A drunk Paterson driver had a child in the car with her when she was involved in an accident on Skyline Drive in Oakland, authorities said. Karina Merchan, 39, was driving a Honda CRV that struck a Ram pickup truck as its driver was making a U-turn on Saturday, Jan. 29, Capt. Timothy Keenan said. A second passenger with Merchan and the juvenile sustained a minor neck injury but declined medical attention, the captain said. Merchan was taken into custody after failing field sobriety tests and giving the responding officers false identifying information, Keenan said. She was charged with as…