Passaic Sheriff: Thief With Gang Ties Threatened Security Guards With Taser

PATERSON, N.J. -- A reputed gang member who snatched an iPhone from display stand at a Paterson electronics store threatened pursuing security guards with a Taser, said authorities who arrested him.

Israel Rodriguez
Photo Credit: *COURTESY: Passaic County Sheriff*

Jerry DeMarco

12/19/2016 2:37 p.m.

Passaic County Sheriff’s Officer Michael Webber was outside of 100 Hamilton Plaza when employees from the Market Street store told him what happened, Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik said.

"After being threatened with the weapon, they stopped and the [thief] again fled on foot," he said.

Detectives of Berdnik's Criminal Investigative Division worked with their colleagues from his Gang Intel Unit to identify 28-year-old Israel Rodriguez -- a documented gang member -- as the suspect, the sheriff said.

Last Wednesday, sheriff's detectives found Rodriguez at an Oak Street residence and arrested him, Berdnik said.

He was charged with robbery, theft and weapons offenses and ordered held on $100,000 bail in the Passaic County Jail.

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