Fair 44°
Police & Fire
ATTEMPTED MURDER: Bergen Man Chokes, Tries To Sexually Assault Pre-Teen: Authorities ATTEMPTED MURDER: Bergen Man Chokes, Tries To Sexually Assault Pre-Teen: Authorities
Attempted Murder: Bergen Man Chokes, Tries To Sexually Assault Pre-Teen: Authorities A 33-year-old Ridgefield man choked a Fairview pre-teen “to the point of unconsciousness” and had removed both his and the incapacitated child's clothes before he was stopped, authorities said. Julio Amaro-Vasquez, who lives on Bergen Boulevard just off Oakdene Avenue, was charged with attempted murder, attempted aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault, attempted sexual assault by contact and child endangerment. He wasn't the only person arrested in connection with the alleged incident, however. Amaro-Vasquez's girlfriend, Marlin Cervantes Santos, 30, of Fairview, “directed…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Violent Robber Who Preyed On Prostitutes At Secaucus Hotels Captured, Police Say Violent Robber Who Preyed On Prostitutes At Secaucus Hotels Captured, Police Say
Violent Robber Who Preyed On Prostitutes At Secaucus Hotels Captured, Police Say One of two men who forced their way into motel rooms and robbed prostitutes and their customers in Secaucus was seized by police, authorities announced Friday. Kendall Smith, 32, of Jersey City and a second man committed at least three violent robberies beginning May 17 at the La Quinta Hotel, Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said. Smith and his companion “forced their way into the victims’ hotel room while brandishing knives,” the chief said. “After a struggle, the suspects fled the area with some of the victims’ money, personal belongings and documents.” Two weeks later, they did the …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Dumont Mom Jailed For Abusing Kid: Prosecutor Dumont Mom Jailed For Abusing Kid: Prosecutor
Dumont Mom Jailed For Abusing Kid: Prosecutor A 46-year-old Dumont woman was jailed for physically abusing one of her children, authorities said. Stacey A. Wilmarth was arrested by Dumont police on Monday, June 3, in connection with allegations from a week earlier, records show. Detectives from Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella’s Special Victims Unit subsequently charged Wilmarth with aggravated assault and child endangerment. She remained held Tuesday in the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack. ****** ALSO SEE: A 48-year-old Fort Lee mom was charged with aggravated ma…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
NJ Soccer Player, Licensed Gun Owner Jailed After Threatening Rival With Weapon After Game: PD NJ Soccer Player, Licensed Gun Owner Jailed After Threatening Rival With Weapon After Game: PD
NJ Soccer Player, Licensed Gun Owner Jailed After Threatening Rival With Weapon After Game: PD A Jersey City man has been arrested after pointing a handgun at a rival soccer player after both were ejected from a game in Secaucus over the weekend, police said. Reda Benyamin, 34, and the player on an opposing team began arguing during the game at Shetik Field on County Avenue on May 2, Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said. Both players were ejected and went to their cars to leave after the game. While stopped at a light on Jefferson and County Avenue, Benyamin pulled up next to the player's car and threatened him with a black handgun, police said. Both then left the area. Benyamin…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Former Newark Officer Sentenced To State Prison In Shooting Death During Pursuit Former Newark Officer Sentenced To State Prison In Shooting Death During Pursuit
Former Newark Officer Sentenced To State Prison In Shooting Death During Pursuit A former Newark police officer who shot and killed a driver during a pursuit and critically injured his passenger was sentenced to 27 years in New Jersey State Prison. Jovanny Crespo, 30, must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he's eligible for parole. Essex County Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin Jr. imposed the sentence under the No Early Release Act. Crespo was convicted in July 2023 on six counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter in the death of 46-year-old Gregory Griffin, and second-degree aggravated assault for critically wounding Griffin's passenger, Andrew Dixon, 3…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
GOTCHA! Gunman Who Terrorized Robbery Victims In Bergen, Passaic Captured In VA: Prosecutor GOTCHA! Gunman Who Terrorized Robbery Victims In Bergen, Passaic Captured In VA: Prosecutor
Gotcha! Gunman Who Terrorized Robbery Victims In Bergen, Passaic Captured In VA: Prosecutor 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A 24-year-old fugitive from Elmwood Park who was wanted for a terrifying armed robbery spree in Bergen and Passaic counties was captured in Virginia, authorities announced Wednesday. Husem Nasri pistol-whipped an attendant at a Valero station on northbound Route 17 near Route 46 in Hasbrouck Heights shortly before 3 p.m. Feb. 5, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Less 20 minutes later Nasri pointed a gun at an attendant who locked himself in the Delta station at Van Houten and Broad avenues in Clifton – also near Route 46, the prosecutor said. Nasri fled empty-handed both …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Gunman Arrested After Firing Shots In Phillipsburg: Prosecutor Gunman Arrested After Firing Shots In Phillipsburg: Prosecutor
Gunman Arrested After Firing Shots In Phillipsburg: Prosecutor A man was arrested and charged after shots were fired in Phillipsburg on Thursday, May 23, authorities said. At 8:35 p.m., officers in Phillipsburg responded to Stockton Street and Mercer Street and confirmed shots were fired, Acting Warren County Prosecutor Anthony Picione said. Khalil Thomas was identified as the suspect and charged with multiple weapons offenses, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and refusing to allow law enforcement to fingerprint him, Picione said.

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Wild Street Brawl Sends Repeat Offender, Officers To Hospital: Hasbrouck Heights PD Wild Street Brawl Sends Repeat Offender, Officers To Hospital: Hasbrouck Heights PD
Wild Street Brawl Sends Repeat Offender, Officers To Hospital: Hasbrouck Heights PD A repeat offender from Toms River who was high on PCP fought violently with police who kept him from running into traffic outside a 7-Eleven in North Jersey, authorities said. The incident was another in a recent series of episodes involving Albert P. Fischetta III, 40, of Toms River, whose violent reaction sent two officers – and himself – to the hospital, they said. Fischetta had been freed after police at the Jersey Shore said he attacked an elderly man while not wearing any clothes last fall, records show. This time, his girlfriend told Hasbrouck Heights that Fischetta suddenly bailed …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Home Invader Who Beat, Robbed Allendale Tenant ID'd As Passaic County Reoffender, 23 Home Invader Who Beat, Robbed Allendale Tenant ID'd As Passaic County Reoffender, 23
Home Invader Who Beat, Robbed Allendale Tenant ID'd As Passaic County Reoffender, 23 Authorities identified the assailant who beat and robbed an Allendale tenant at gunpoint two months ago of $900 in cash, pot and a bottle of booze as a violent repeat offender from Passaic County. Jahan A. Hendley, 23, of Clifton ambushed the victim outside his apartment shortly before 4 p.m. March 25, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Tuesday, May 21. Forcing him back inside, Hendley assaulted and robbed the victim – then pointed a gun at another civilian as he fled, the prosecutor said. Detectives didn’t have to go far to find Hendley. He'd been arrested in Passaic County in Ap…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
GOTCHA! Fleeing Driver Who Hit Teaneck Woman, 18, On Sidewalk Turns Out To Be Repeat Offender GOTCHA! Fleeing Driver Who Hit Teaneck Woman, 18, On Sidewalk Turns Out To Be Repeat Offender
Gotcha! Fleeing Driver Who Hit Teaneck Woman, 18, On Sidewalk Turns Out To Be Repeat Offender 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A motorist who struck and injured an 18-year-old Teaneck woman when he drove onto the sidewalk to avoid police turned out to be a violent ex-con, authorities said. Michael Anthony Hammond, 32, of Paterson has a violent criminal history that stretches back well over a decade. He'd been arrested in Passaic County this past March on charges of choking a victim and endangering a child, but was released by a judge the very same day, records show. A little over two weeks later, on April 16, Teaneck Police Officer Kyle Rosen stopped Hammond on Palisade Avenue near Votee Park for several …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Hackensack Man Throws Bleach In Mechanic's Face, Smashes Windshield: Rochelle Park PD Hackensack Man Throws Bleach In Mechanic's Face, Smashes Windshield: Rochelle Park PD
Hackensack Man Throws Bleach In Mechanic's Face, Smashes Windshield: Rochelle Park PD Surveillance cameras recorded a Hackensack man throwing bleach in the face of a mechanic at a Rochelle Park service station, then smashing his windshield, authorities said. Alonge Jones, 33, went to the station at the corner of Rochelle and Central avenues after his girlfriend purportedly had some type of “negative interaction” with the mechanic a day earlier, Rochelle Park Police Capt. James M. DePreta said. Jones then assaulted the victim and smashed the windshield with a tool when he showed up, the captain said. The worker as taken to a local hospital with an eye injury. Meanwhile, Det…

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by Jerry DeMarco