Passaic Sheriff's Warrant Squad Tracks Down Fugitive In Paterson

PATERSON, N.J. -- Tipsters led Passaic County sheriff's officers Tuesday night to an abandoned row of Paterson houses where they found a fugitive from Garfield accused of breaking into cars in Totowa and Woodland Park after skipping sentencing for burglary.

James Pellett
Photo Credit: *MUGSHOT: Courtesy PASSAIC COUNTY SHERIFF*

Jerry DeMarco

09/27/2016 11:00 p.m.

James Pellett was exactly in the Godwin Avenue area where the informant directed members of the sheriff's Warrants Division -- Detective Sgt. Raphael Garcia, Detective Cpl. Joseph Cammisa and Detectives Rashedul Chowdhury, Atli Sela and John Tolerico -- Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik said late Tuesday.

The 27-year-old ex-con, who has a considerable criminal record in various New Jersey counties, was "known to hang out and sleep in the back of the abandoned buildings," Berdnik said.

He was trying to walk away from one of them when the warrant squad grabbed him, the sheriff said.

Besides the burglary sentencing, Pellett faces additional charges -- nine counts each of burglary, theft and criminal trespassing out of Totowa and one of burglary from Woodland Park, Berdnik said.

He was also wanted on warrants out of Clifton, South Hackensack and Tinton Falls, the sheriff said.

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