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Passaic County Prosecutor's Office

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KIDNAPPING: NJ Girl, 11, Returned Home Safely From Delaware, Accused Abductor, 27, Seized KIDNAPPING: NJ Girl, 11, Returned Home Safely From Delaware, Accused Abductor, 27, Seized
Kidnapping: NJ Girl, 11, Returned Home Safely From Delaware, Accused Abductor, 27, Seized An 11-year-old New Jersey girl was returned home safely after she was kidnapped in Wayne and taken to Delaware, authorities said. Darius Matylewich, 27, of Bear, DE. was captured on Sept. 10 after he took the girl earlier in the day from an undisclosed location near the confluence of Routes 46, 80 and 23 without her parents’ knowledge, they said. Certain specific details are being withheld to protect the identity of the child, whom authorities said Matylewich met while playing an online video game. Some information was provided in a joint release from Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. V…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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UPDATE: Body Found In NJ River Tentatively ID'd, Probe Begun, Following Police Chase UPDATE: Body Found In NJ River Tentatively ID'd, Probe Begun, Following Police Chase
Update: Body Found In NJ River Tentatively ID'd, Probe Begun, Following Police Chase UPDATE: Authorities on Thursday tentatively identified a man whose body was recovered from a New Jersey river following a police chase. They also officially acknowledged that the incident was being investigated. The announcement follows a story by Daily Voice exploring the circumstances that led to the death of Thadius Wilder, a 35-year-old father of five from Passaic whose body apparently was in the water for two days before it was discovered. Wilder’s body was removed from the Passaic River below Route 21 after kayakers spotted it around 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1, City of Passaic Police Chief…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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FBI: Groomed-For-Sex Indiana Girl, 15, Rescued After Paterson Man Pays Uber To Bring Her To NJ FBI: Groomed-For-Sex Indiana Girl, 15, Rescued After Paterson Man Pays Uber To Bring Her To NJ
FBI: Groomed-For-Sex Indiana Girl, 15, Rescued After Paterson Man Pays Uber To Bring Her To NJ A 22-year-old Paterson man showered a 15-year-old Indiana girl he'd met online with money, gifts and compliments before paying an Uber driver to bring her to him for sex, federal authorities said. Arnold Castillo "groomed" the girl, gaining her trust and alienating her from her family and other support systems before convincing her to leave Lawrence, IN, for New Jersey, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Southern Indiana charged. Castillo "paid and arranged for an Uber driver to pick up the minor and transport her across state lines to him," alleges to an FBI complaint on file in U.S. District …

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by Jerry DeMarco
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'Drop The Gun!': Video Shows NJ Police Officer Shooting Fleeing Suspect 'Drop The Gun!': Video Shows NJ Police Officer Shooting Fleeing Suspect
'Drop The Gun!': Video Shows NJ Police Officer Shooting Fleeing Suspect Footage from the body camera of a Paterson police officer who shot a fleeing suspect during a foot chase was released by Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes on Friday. "Drop the gun!" Officer Jerry Moravek shouts several times as he chases Khalif Cooper, 28, down John Street around 3:30 a.m. June 11. Suddenly, two shots ring out and Cooper falls face down in the street. Moravek handcuffs Cooper, who repeatedly says, "I don't got no gun." "Shots fired," the officer says into his radio. "Send ALS [Advanced Life Support] and supervisors. Send ALS." Moravek repeatedly asks for an ambul…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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GUILTY: Kidnapping Rapist Who Cancelled Plea Deal Convicted In Rampage Through PA, NJ, NY GUILTY: Kidnapping Rapist Who Cancelled Plea Deal Convicted In Rampage Through PA, NJ, NY
Guilty: Kidnapping Rapist Who Cancelled Plea Deal Convicted In Rampage Through PA, NJ, NY An ex-con who kidnapped and raped his ex-girlfriend in Pennsylvania, torched a used car dealership in Paterson and crashed a stolen SUV into police cars on either side of the George Washington Bridge rolled the dice and lost. After originally pleading guilty to several charges, Luis Figueroa, 41, withdrew his plea and took his chances with federal jurors in Newark. They ended up convicting him following a two-week trial. So now, instead of the 26-year deal that he originally accepted from the government, Figueroa could be sentenced to nearly 50 years in federal prison. The rampage had an “…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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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…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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NJ Officer Indicted In Accused Beating Of Arab-American Resident NJ Officer Indicted In Accused Beating Of Arab-American Resident
NJ Officer Indicted In Accused Beating Of Arab-American Resident A Paterson police officer beat a 19-year-old Arab-American man and then lied about it, a federal grand jury charged. Officers Kevin Patino, 29, violated the civil rights of the victim, according to the indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Newark, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. Osamah Alsaidi was walking with his hands in his pockets the night of Dec. 14, 2020 when Patino and Officer Kendry Tineo-Restituyo approached him, the U.S. attorney said. What they didn’t know was that area surveillance cameras were recording the incident (see below). “Patino grabbe…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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Authorities: NJ Tenant Kills Roommate With Rock Authorities: NJ Tenant Kills Roommate With Rock
Authorities: NJ Tenant Kills Roommate With Rock A Paterson man bashed his roommate in the head with a rock, killing him, authorities said Tuesday. The victim – initially identified only by the initial M.B. – was found face down on the living room floor of the 12th Avenue apartment he shared with Raymond Menafield, 40, at 6:20 a.m. Sunday. He had a large gash in the back of his head, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora said in a joint announcement. The victim was pronounced dead 20 minutes later, they said. Menafield killed him during some type of dispute, Valdes and Baycora said. He w…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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3rd Man Charged In Killing Of NJ Victim Gunned Down In Front Of Mom 3rd Man Charged In Killing Of NJ Victim Gunned Down In Front Of Mom
3rd Man Charged In Killing Of NJ Victim Gunned Down In Front Of Mom A third arrest was made nearly two weeks ago in the cold-blooded ambush killing a 22-year-old Paterson man in front of his mother last Fourth of July weekend, authorities announced Monday. Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora didn’t explain why they waited nearly two weeks to announce the arrest of Dashawn A. Rhoden, 22, in the shooting death of Juan Garcia, 28 last July 3. They'd done the same earlier Monday when they announced the capture of a suspect in another murder case,  Garcia was gunned down in front of his mother in a targeted…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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Paterson Ex-Con Sent To Fed Pen For Nearly 5 Years For Selling Revolvers, Pistols, Rifles, Ammo Paterson Ex-Con Sent To Fed Pen For Nearly 5 Years For Selling Revolvers, Pistols, Rifles, Ammo
Paterson Ex-Con Sent To Fed Pen For Nearly 5 Years For Selling Revolvers, Pistols, Rifles, Ammo UPDATE: An ex-con from Paterson who'd already done state prison time for a gun conviction is headed to federal prison for nearly five years for selling 16 weapons smuggled into New Jersey. Rather than face trial, Floyd “HK” Henry, 36, took a deal from the government, pleading guilty via videoconference with a federal judge in Newark last summer to gun selling, as well as being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammo. Henry sold two semi-automatic rifles, three revolvers and 11 semi-automatic pistols – as well as over 100 rounds of ammunition -- when ATF agents arrested him in S…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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20 Years Later, Detectives Still Pursue Christmastime Killing Of NJ Grandma 20 Years Later, Detectives Still Pursue Christmastime Killing Of NJ Grandma
20 Years Later, Detectives Still Pursue Christmastime Killing Of NJ Grandma Before the explosion of social media and cold-case TV shows and streams, a beloved grandmother was stabbed dead in her Clifton home. Known for her generous volunteer work, Gertrude Bizarro, 72, was the matriarch of her family and the de facto grandmother of her Dutch Hill neighborhood, a row of two-story homes near the Passaic border. She was "all-around great woman loved by many," recalled Clifton Police Detective Lt. Robert Bracken, who knew her. Twenty years ago this Saturday, Bizarro's husband took their youngest daughter to a hair appointment in anticipation of a Christmas gathering i…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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Ex-NJ Police Officer Admits Exchanging Nude Pics With Underage Teen Ex-NJ Police Officer Admits Exchanging Nude Pics With Underage Teen
Ex-NJ Police Officer Admits Exchanging Nude Pics With Underage Teen A now-former Pompton Lakes police officer avoided potential prison time by pleading guilty to exchanging nude photos online with an underage teenager, authorities said. Mark Stinnard, 37, engaged in the relationship with the Riverdale youngster on his own time 3½ years ago and not while he was on the clock, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said. Stinnard was arrested in late September and charged with “engaging in sexual conduct with a child” and endangerment for manufacturing child pornography and “causing harm to a child,” the prosecutor said. No sexual assault charges were fi…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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Drugged Driver Takes Plea In NJ Gas Station Crash That Killed Dad, Teen Son Drugged Driver Takes Plea In NJ Gas Station Crash That Killed Dad, Teen Son
Drugged Driver Takes Plea In NJ Gas Station Crash That Killed Dad, Teen Son UPDATE: A drug-addicted Sussex County driver who killed a father, son and gas station attendant in a horrific crash on Route 23 in Wayne two years ago will be sentenced to a minimum of 25½ years without parole after pleading guilty Friday to three counts of aggravated manslaughter, authorities said. Jason Vanderee, 29, told a state judge in Paterson that he’d used heroin and fentanyl in combination with other drugs when he blacked out behind the wheel on Feb. 19, 2019. Jon Warbeck, a former Carlstadt firefighter from Fair Lawn and his 17-year-old son, Luke, of Lincoln Park, had stopped for…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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NJ Couple Charged With Murder In Death Of 8-Month-Old NJ Couple Charged With Murder In Death Of 8-Month-Old
NJ Couple Charged With Murder In Death Of 8-Month-Old A 20-year-old Wallington woman and an accused heroin dealer from Paterson were both charged with murder in the death of her 8-month-old baby. Ashley Roman and Joshua Delgado, 22, brought the infant to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center on Oct. 25, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim M. Baycora said in a joint announcement. The child died soon after, they said without elaborating on the cause or circumstances. The New Jersey Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide, Valdes and Baycora said. Both Roman and Delgado, who they said i…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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IT'S OFFICIAL: NJ Woman Who Drowned Weeks-Old Puppy Gets 180 Days In Jail, Community Service IT'S OFFICIAL: NJ Woman Who Drowned Weeks-Old Puppy Gets 180 Days In Jail, Community Service
IT'S Official: NJ Woman Who Drowned Weeks-Old Puppy Gets 180 Days In Jail, Community Service UPDATE: A Morris County woman was formally sentenced Tuesday to 180 days in jail followed by five years probation for deliberately drowning a 10-week-old puppy in a West Milford lake. Superior Court Judge Marilyn C. Clark, sitting in Paterson, approved the terms of a plea deal under which Tonya Fea, 49, must complete 100 days of community service following her release. She also can no longer own a dog, under agreement with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. Fea, of Boonton, pleaded guilty in Superior Court in Paterson to third-degree animal cruelty two months ago, admitting u…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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Deportee Who Raped NJ Girl, 15, After Sneaking Back Into US Gets 7¾ Years Deportee Who Raped NJ Girl, 15, After Sneaking Back Into US Gets 7¾ Years
Deportee Who Raped NJ Girl, 15, After Sneaking Back Into US Gets 7¾ Years UPDATE: A deportee who snuck back into the U.S. and was living illegally in Paterson was sentenced Tuesday to 95 months in federal prison for raping a 15-year-old city girl. Juan Carlos Morales-Pedraza, a 35-year-old Mexican citizen who was born in Ecuador, had been deported in 2010, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said. He'd re-entered the United States when he approached the girl in Passaic County in April 2019, had sex with her, then took her with him on a planned trip to Chicago, Honig said. They never made it that far, however. An Ohio state trooper pulled Morales-Pedraza’s 201…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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UPDATE: Pennsylvania Driver Critical After NJ Tree Crash UPDATE: Pennsylvania Driver Critical After NJ Tree Crash
Update: Pennsylvania Driver Critical After NJ Tree Crash A Pennsylvania driver was critically injured when her compact car struck a tree in West Milford during the Independence Day weekend, authorities confirmed Tuesday. The 32-year-old Bethel, PA resident was driving a 2006 Toyota Scion xB that crashed outside the Secluded Acres Horse Boarding farm on Union Valley Road shortly after 6 p.m., they said. Both she and a 34-year-old male passenger from Lake Hopatcong were taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and West Milford Police Chief James DeVore said. The driver remained there in…

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by Jerry DeMarco