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It all began on Thursday, Feb. 13, when Hoboken Police responded to an incident on the 300 block of Adams Street, according to Hoboken Police Chief Steven Aguiar.
According to investigators, a ride-share driver had returned to the area to drop off a phone that had been left behind by a passenger. But instead of a simple thank you, the driver was allegedly met with a gun pointed at his head, police said.
No shots were fired, and the driver escaped unharmed, but not before the suspect took the phone and retreated into his residence, according to Hoboken police.
Hoboken Police quickly launched an investigation, led by Detective Jesse Castellano and the Hoboken Detective Bureau. Within 24 hours, police identified the suspect as 52-year-old Preston Dortch of Hoboken, according to authorities.
Over the next two weeks, police gathered evidence and secured search and arrest warrants, which were approved by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office on Feb. 25, police said. On March 3, officers, along with the Hudson County Regional SWAT team, moved in to arrest Dortch at his residence, according to Hoboken police.
During the search and arrest, officers recovered a firearm and non-lethal bullets known as pepper ball rounds, police said. The firearm was secured, and Dortch was taken into custody without incident, authorities confirmed.
Dortch was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters, where he was charged with:
- Aggravated Assault
- Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose
- Unlawful Possession of a Weapon
Dortch was processed on all charges and is set to be transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility, police said.
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