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James DePreta

Hotel Heroin Dealer With Young Kids Had 'Brick' Of Smack: Rochelle Park PD Hotel Heroin Dealer With Young Kids Had 'Brick' Of Smack: Rochelle Park PD
Hotel Heroin Dealer With Young Kids Had 'Brick' Of Smack: Rochelle Park PD A convicted drug dealer had two young children with him when a pair of Rochelle Park detectives caught him selling heroin at a hotel just off the Garden State Parkway, authorities said. Detectives Sgt. Jared Shatkin and Nick Mercoun were joined by a team of officers as Ricardo Murdock, 31, of Paterson did business in the parking lot of the Ramada By Wyndham at the Route 160 exit off the northbound parkway, Capt. James DePreta said. They seized Murdock, who was carrying Ecstasy and drug proceeds, and a male buyer, the captain said. Murdock has a rap sheet, mostly involving drugs, that stret…
Naked Intruder Mops Floors In Private School: Rochelle Park PD Naked Intruder Mops Floors In Private School: Rochelle Park PD
Naked Intruder Mops Floors In Private School: Rochelle Park PD A homeless man with a criminal history was recorded on video entering a private school in Rochelle Park at night, stripping and then mopping the floors naked, authorities said. Chayson Ortiz, 30, is accused of trespassing at the Sage Day School both on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Ortiz "proceeded to de-robe and began cleaning and mopping the hallway floors while naked," Rochelle Park Police Capt. James DePreta said. He also rummaged through lost and found boxes, took a break in a teacher's lounge and washed his clothes in the mop bucket, the captain said. Detectives Sgt. Jared Shatkin qu…
SUPERMARKET BRAWL: Worker At Bergen Shop-Rite Beaten With Chair, Choked Out, Arrest Made SUPERMARKET BRAWL: Worker At Bergen Shop-Rite Beaten With Chair, Choked Out, Arrest Made
Supermarket Brawl: Worker At Bergen Shop-Rite Beaten With Chair, Choked Out, Arrest Made An outside employee on the job at a ShopRite in Rochelle Park beat another with a metal folding chair, then choked him out before fleeing, authorities said. Leslie A. Mann, 53, grabbed the chair during an argument with a fellow privately contracted employee at the West Passaic Street supermarket, Police Capt. James DePreta said. Mann, of Riverdale, hit the co-worker over the head with the chair several times, then punched him in the chest, knocking him to the floor, the captain said. He then choked the victim with his hands until he lost consciousness, DePreta said. Several co-workers fi…
NY Fugitive Nabbed After Crashing Stolen Car, Running Through Route 4 Traffic: Rochelle Park PD NY Fugitive Nabbed After Crashing Stolen Car, Running Through Route 4 Traffic: Rochelle Park PD
NY Fugitive Nabbed After Crashing Stolen Car, Running Through Route 4 Traffic: Rochelle Park PD A fugitive who crashed a stolen car while being chased by Rochelle Park police ran across six lanes of traffic on Route 4 before he was captured in Paramus, authorities said. Officer Hasan Shah was on Essex Street when he spotted the BMW 5 Series sedan, which had been reported stolen out of New York City, around 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, Capt. James DePreta said. The driver, Adonis Padilla, 27, of New York, hit the gas, leading a brief pursuit that ended when he hit a light pole at the eastbound Route 4 entrance ramp from Paramus Road, the captain said Wednesday. Padilla -- who was …
Police Chase Ends In Stolen Car Arrest Off Route 4 Police Chase Ends In Stolen Car Arrest Off Route 4
Police Chase Ends In Stolen Car Arrest Off Route 4 A fugitive who crashed a stolen car while being chased by Rochelle Park police ran across six lanes of traffic on Route 4 before he was captured in Paramus, authorities said. Officer Hasan Shah was on Essex Street when he spotted the BMW 5 Series sedan, which had been reported stolen out of New York City, around 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, Capt. James DePreta said. The driver, Adonis Padilla, 27, of New York, hit the gas, leading a brief pursuit that ended when he hit a light pole at the eastbound Route 4 entrance ramp from Paramus Road, the captain said Wednesday. Padilla -- who was wante…
HELP WANTED: New School Resource Officer Sought In Rochelle Park HELP WANTED: New School Resource Officer Sought In Rochelle Park
Help Wanted: New School Resource Officer Sought In Rochelle Park Rochelle Park police are seeking a retired law enforcement officer to work in one of the township's schools. The recent promotion of Sgt. Chris Bermudez to lieutenant created the opening at the K-8 Midland School No. 1, Detective Capt. James DePreta said. The Special Law Enforcement Officer III would be paid $35 an hour for a part-time 40-hour workweek whenever school is officially in session, the captain said. The scheduled start time is early this September for the 2023-24 school year, he said. "Under the supervision of the chief of police and/or the chief's designee, the individual wor…
Out-Of-Town ID Thieves Caught Bank Hopping In Rochelle Park: Police Out-Of-Town ID Thieves Caught Bank Hopping In Rochelle Park: Police
Out-Of-Town ID Thieves Caught Bank Hopping In Rochelle Park: Police Three ID thieves who'd already victimized no fewer than 19 people didn't realize a pair of Rochelle Park detectives were watching as they hopped from bank to bank, authorities said. Detectives Brian Cobb and Brian Gallina began following their white Honda Accord with New York plates after seeing it being driven erratically near West Passaic Street and Paramus Road, Capt. James DePreta said. "At times, they entered and then ran from banks into the waiting vehicle," he said on Friday, May 12. The suspects tore up what appeared to be a check and tossed it out the window as the detectives pull…
WATCH: YouTube Video Shows Rapper Assaulting Bergen Shop Rite Worker, Harassing Customers WATCH: YouTube Video Shows Rapper Assaulting Bergen Shop Rite Worker, Harassing Customers
Watch: YouTube Video Shows Rapper Assaulting Bergen Shop Rite Worker, Harassing Customers One way to pretty much guarantee you'll be arrested is to record a crime and post it on YouTube -- in high def, no less. Just ask drill music rapper Nas Ebk. Nasir Valenzuela, who has produced prank videos that push the limits of legality, joined two accomplices in harassing and intimidating customers and employees at the ShopRite in Rochelle Park while recording it. Some of their targets laughed it off. At least one seemed intimidated. Others simply ignored them. One worker, in particular, wasn't having it, though. The video shows Valenzuela, 19, of the Bronx, snatching the stock cler…
REEL STORY: Ex-Con Nabbed With Gun Fished From Lake: Rochelle Park PD REEL STORY: Ex-Con Nabbed With Gun Fished From Lake: Rochelle Park PD
Reel Story: Ex-Con Nabbed With Gun Fished From Lake: Rochelle Park PD A Newark ex-con was carrying a gun that he'd apparently fished out of a lake when a Rochelle Park police officer pulled him over Sunday morning, authorities said. Officer Chris Kiszka called for a Bergen County Sheriff's K-9 Unit after stopping Lamont House, 31, for multiple motor vehicle violations on West Passaic around 10:30 a.m. Feb. 19, Lt. James DePreta said. A positive indication prompted a search that turned up a Hi-Point Arms .380-caliber handgun in the trunk, the lieutenant said. House was charged with various weapons offenses, including having a firearm in his possession as a co…
Double-Decker Train Downs Wires In Rochelle Park Double-Decker Train Downs Wires In Rochelle Park
Double-Decker Train Downs Wires In Rochelle Park Update: Railroad avenue had been reopened as of 7:15 a.m. Monday, Feb. 6. Original story: A re-routed double-decker train downed wires closing an intersection in Rochelle Park for several hours, authorities said. Several poles and the traffic light on Rochelle Avenue were damaged in the accident around 5:40 p.m., Rochelle Park Police Lt. James DePreta said. Police urged drivers to avoid Rochelle Avenue between Central Avenue and Essex Street. PSEG, Verizon, County Light repair, and several surrounding police agencies were dispatched. The intersection will be closed as repairs are being ma…
Flying Tire Slams Into House Below Route 17 Bridge Flying Tire Slams Into House Below Route 17 Bridge
Flying Tire Slams Into House Below Route 17 Bridge A dislodged tractor-trailer wheel bounded off a Route 17 bridge and into a house below, authorities said. No one was injured, Rochelle Park Police Lt. James DePreta said following the morning mishap on Tuesday, Sept. 27. "Luckily there was only minor damage to the house," he said. The tire popped off the cab of a tractor-trailer on the bridge just past Cabinets to Go at the Maywood border, then bounded over the side and into the Central Avenue home.
Rochelle Park PD: Drunk Driver Had No License, No Interlock Device, 7-Year-Old Child With Him Rochelle Park PD: Drunk Driver Had No License, No Interlock Device, 7-Year-Old Child With Him
Rochelle Park PD: Drunk Driver Had No License, No Interlock Device, 7-Year-Old Child With Him A convicted drunk driver had a 7-year-old child without a booster sitting in the back seat and no interlock device when a Rochelle Park police officer stopped him, authorities said. It was 11 in the morning when Officer Ryan Burke stopped the 2007 Honda on Rochelle Avenue for several violations, Lt. James DePreta said. Burke approached the vehicle, driven by Paul Bailey, 30, and "immediately detected the odor of alcoholic beverages, while observing an improperly restrained 7-year-old child in the rear seat," the lieutenant said. Bailey, a Jamaican national living in Paterson, didn't have a…
Stolen Credit Cards, Oxy, $10,000 Seized, Two From NYC Busted By Rochelle Park PD Stolen Credit Cards, Oxy, $10,000 Seized, Two From NYC Busted By Rochelle Park PD
Stolen Credit Cards, Oxy, $10,000 Seized, Two From NYC Busted By Rochelle Park PD A Rochelle Park police officer trying to help the occupants of a disabled vehicle found them carrying credit cards in other people's names, oxycodone tablets and $10,000 in tainted cash, authorities said. Officer Jorge Orihuela went to help after spotting the vehicle in front of the Midland School on Rochelle Avenue around 10 p.m. Monday, April 25, Lt. James DePreta said. "Nervous behavior and conflicting accounts" from the driver and his passenger made Orihuela suspicious, DePreta said. After getting consent to search the vehicle, he found the credit cards, drugs and cash, as well as blan…
Police: Rochelle Park Officer Seizes 100 Ecstasy Pills From Hackensack Driver With History Police: Rochelle Park Officer Seizes 100 Ecstasy Pills From Hackensack Driver With History
Police: Rochelle Park Officer Seizes 100 Ecstasy Pills From Hackensack Driver With History A Rochelle Park police officer found a Hackensack driver with a criminal history carrying 100 Ecstasy pills in a shoulder bag during a traffic stop, authorities said. Officer Chris Kiszka stopped the Volkswagen sedan on Passaic Street because it was missing a front license plate and had heavily tinted windows, Lt. James DePreta said. “Nervous behavior” by Jason Pollard, 37, prompted Kiszka to request – and receive – consent to search the bag, DePreta said. Pollard has a criminal history stretching back more than 15 years, nearly all for minor drug or arrears arrests. He was charged this t…
Gun-Toting Motorist, 20, Drives Into Oncoming Traffic, Rochelle Park Police Charge Gun-Toting Motorist, 20, Drives Into Oncoming Traffic, Rochelle Park Police Charge
Gun-Toting Motorist, 20, Drives Into Oncoming Traffic, Rochelle Park Police Charge A motorist being followed by a Rochelle Park police officer suddenly drove into oncoming traffic between two tractor-trailers before he was found carrying a loaded gun and ammo, authorities said. Officer Chris Kiszka pulled behind the black BMW with an expired temporary Texas license plate on Essex Street around 11 a.m. Monday, Lt. James DePreta said. The driver -- later identified as Kamare Allen, 20, of the Bronx -- abruptly crossed the double-yellow line before stopping at a nearby gas station, he said. Given consent to search the vehicle, Kiszka reported finding a .45-caliber Kahr Arms…
Traffic Stop Turns Up Loaded Gun In Passenger's Pocket, Rochelle Park PD Says Traffic Stop Turns Up Loaded Gun In Passenger's Pocket, Rochelle Park PD Says
Traffic Stop Turns Up Loaded Gun In Passenger's Pocket, Rochelle Park PD Says A passenger wanted on a warrant was carrying a loaded gun in his pocket when an Rochelle Park police officer stopped the sedan he was in, authorities said. Officer Chris Kiszka stopped the 2004 Toyota Solara driven by Raymond Hood, 30, of Palmerton, PA for several violations on West Passaic Street around 9 p.m. Friday, Rochelle Park Police Lt. James DePreta said. A computer check turned up the warrant out of Newark, so Hood was taken into custody, DePreta said. Kiszka, Officer Jorge Orihuela and Detective Brian Cobb police then found the .25-caliber Colt in Hood's front pocket, the lieuten…
SMH: Dispatcher Catches Thief Stealing Gear From Rochelle Park Flood Rescue Boat SMH: Dispatcher Catches Thief Stealing Gear From Rochelle Park Flood Rescue Boat
SMH: Dispatcher Catches Thief Stealing Gear From Rochelle Park Flood Rescue Boat How low can someone go? Rochelle Park firefighters found out when a Clifton man tried to snatch police life jackets and safety ropes from their rescue boat Thursday night, authorities said. The rescuers had left the boat on West Passaic Street, just beyond the floodwaters, after saving several victims and shuttling police to headquarters flooded by Tropical Storm Ida. Dispatcher Mike Colombini rushed out and kept Omar Omar, 49, from leaving before officers arrived around 7 p.m., Police Lt. James DePreta said. Omar was arrested, charged with theft and released pending a court hearing. Poli…
Police: Combative Driver Tangles With Officers At Rochelle Park Auto Shop Police: Combative Driver Tangles With Officers At Rochelle Park Auto Shop
Police: Combative Driver Tangles With Officers At Rochelle Park Auto Shop A BMW owner fought Rochelle Park police after trying to retrieve his disabled car from a local auto body shop, authorities said. Responding to the call, Sgt. Chris Bermudez and Officer Brian Monico found Erin Andres Espinal, 26, of Brooklyn in a restricted area of the Essex Street shop refusing to leave his 335i, Lt. James DePreta said. When they asked him to leave, Espinal became combative, tangling with the officers, he said. Espinal was subdued after a brief struggle, then taken to a local hospital, the lieutenant said. He was charged with resisting arrest, aggravated assault on police…
Rochelle Park Police Make Another Drug Bust On Route 17 Rochelle Park Police Make Another Drug Bust On Route 17
Rochelle Park Police Make Another Drug Bust On Route 17 Rochelle Park police continued a series of drug arrests along busy Route 17. Officer Chris Kizcka stopped a Kia Forte for equipment violations on the northbound highway on Monday and found 250 bags of heroin, some pot and $600 in suspected proceeds after getting consent to search the vehicle, Lt. James DePreta said. Assisted by Sgt. Jared Shatkin, Kizcka arrested the passenger, Rodney Stowers, 21, of Wilkes Barre, PA on drug and money laundering charges. Stowers was sent to the Bergen County Jail to await a first court appearance. Police Chief Dean Pinto praised the work of his officers w…
Rochelle Park PD: Machete, Crack, Stolen Plates Found, Three Arrested In Stolen Car Rochelle Park PD: Machete, Crack, Stolen Plates Found, Three Arrested In Stolen Car
Rochelle Park PD: Machete, Crack, Stolen Plates Found, Three Arrested In Stolen Car A Rochelle Park police officer stopped what turned out to be a stolen car and found a trio carrying a machete, crack and stolen license plates, authorities said. Officer Chris Kiszka stopped the silver Toyota Corolla, which was missing a front license plate, on Essex Street early Saturday, Lt. James DePreta said. He immediately spotted a machete sticking out of the rear seat, DePreta said. Sgt. Jared Shatkin and Officer Todd Starling and Jorge Orihuela joined Kiszka soon after. The rear license plate didn’t match the vehicle registration number on the Corolla, which has reportedly stolen …
Rochelle Park Officer Finds Couple With Loaded Gun During Traffic Stop Rochelle Park Officer Finds Couple With Loaded Gun During Traffic Stop
Rochelle Park Officer Finds Couple With Loaded Gun During Traffic Stop A Rochelle Park police officer found a couple carrying a loaded gun during a traffic stop Tuesday, authorities said. Officer Franklin Laboy pulled over a Nissan Sentra with tinted windows on West Passaic Street and found the 9mm SCCY CPX hangun under the front passenger seat, Lt. James DePreta said. Laboy summoned backup and arrested the driver, Jamal Mattiex of Paterson, and Monasia Coleman, of Rembert, SC, both 18. Each was charged with weapons offenses and sent to the Bergen County Jail to await first appearances in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack. Assisting were Sgt.…
Rochelle Park PD: Newark Man Who Paid For Sex With Underage Girl Gets Beaten, Robbed, Arrested Rochelle Park PD: Newark Man Who Paid For Sex With Underage Girl Gets Beaten, Robbed, Arrested
Rochelle Park PD: Newark Man Who Paid For Sex With Underage Girl Gets Beaten, Robbed, Arrested A Newark man who paid for sex with an underage girl got mugged instead, said Rochelle Park police who took four people into custody -- including him. An injured Samati Kokou, 36, came running into Fire Department headquarters Saturday night seeking help, Lt. James DePreta said. He had driven to Central Avenue, he said, where he gave a 16-year-old girl cash in exchange for what he expected would be sex, the lieutenant said. Instead, two robbers popped up and beat him. Kokou ran to the Lotz Lane firehouse with injuries to his face, arms and hand, DePreta said. Meanwhile, the robbers ransa…
Mud-Soaked Morris Driver Flushed From Brook After Fleeing Rochelle Park Traffic Stop Mud-Soaked Morris Driver Flushed From Brook After Fleeing Rochelle Park Traffic Stop
Mud-Soaked Morris Driver Flushed From Brook After Fleeing Rochelle Park Traffic Stop A speeding Morris County driver who ran from a traffic stop was flushed from a nearby brook by Rochelle Park police before dawn Thursday, authorities said. Tajay Turner, 25, of Rockaway at first tried to elude Officer Chris Kiszka on Rochelle Avenue in his Honda Accord but eventually pulled over on West Passaic Street shortly after midnight, Detective Lt. James DePreta said. Turner told the officer that he didn’t have any ID, then began sweating profusely while providing what appeared to be a false name, DePreta said. After following Kiszka directive to step out of the car, Turner bolted, …
Police: Unruly Rehab Patient Hits Rochelle Park Officer In Head With Wheelchair Foot Rest Police: Unruly Rehab Patient Hits Rochelle Park Officer In Head With Wheelchair Foot Rest
Police: Unruly Rehab Patient Hits Rochelle Park Officer In Head With Wheelchair Foot Rest A rehab patient hit a Rochelle Park police officer in the head with his wheelchair's foot rest, causing an injury, during a disturbance at a local nursing facility, authorities said. Officers responding to an 8:30 p.m. call Monday of a patient behaving erratically at Alaris Health Facility North tried to calm Michael Malia, 38, of Bloomfield so he could be taken to a hospital, Police Lt. James DePreta said. Malia, however, "became violent towards staff and the officers," including striking the officer with the foot rest, he said. Police subdued Malia and took him to New Bridge Medical Cent…
GRANDPARENT SCAM: Rochelle Park PD Nabs Bronx Man After Elderly Victim Is Conned Out Of $7,800 GRANDPARENT SCAM: Rochelle Park PD Nabs Bronx Man After Elderly Victim Is Conned Out Of $7,800
Grandparent Scam: Rochelle Park PD Nabs Bronx Man After Elderly Victim Is Conned Out Of $7,800 Rochelle Park police nabbed a phone scammer from the Bronx who convinced an elderly victim to mail $7,800 in cash that he said was needed to bail out his just-arrested grandson, authorities said. Posing as a police officer, a caller told the 80-something Washington State resident that his grandson had been arrested, Detective Lt. James DePreta said. The caller said his son needed $16,800 for bail, then directed him to mail $7,800 to a Rochelle Park address, DePreta said. Believing it was real, the victim sent the money, the lieutenant said. He eventually realized it was a scam and called…
Snow Outside And In: Two Busted After Route 17 Stop Of Covered Car Turns Up Cocaine Snow Outside And In: Two Busted After Route 17 Stop Of Covered Car Turns Up Cocaine
Snow Outside And In: Two Busted After Route 17 Stop Of Covered Car Turns Up Cocaine Nearly five ounces of cocaine were seized and two Hackensack residents busted after a Rochelle Park police officer stopped a car on Route 17 that was almost entirely covered in snow, authorities said. Michelle McCracken, 28, didn’t immediately pull over “due to her inability to see through the rear of her vehicle” when Officer Chris Kiszka tried to stop the white Honda Accord on the northbound highway around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Lt. James DePreta said. “The vehicle was covered in snow, including the rear window, which provided zero visibility to the occupants,” DePreta said. Smelling marijuan…
Padiddle: Route 17 Stop Produces Gun, Ammo, Rochelle Park PD Says Padiddle: Route 17 Stop Produces Gun, Ammo, Rochelle Park PD Says
Padiddle: Route 17 Stop Produces Gun, Ammo, Rochelle Park PD Says A Rochelle Park police officer found a handgun after stopping a car driven by an ex-con from Newark on Route 17, authorities said Friday. Officer Chris Kiszka stopped the gray Infiniti for having a headlight out -- commonly known as a "padiddle" -- among other infractions, shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday, Lt. James DePreta said. Kiszka immediately detected the odor of pot in the car, then spotted what was a loaded, high-capacity 9mm magazine on the floor, DePreta said. A subsequent search turned up a loaded 9mm handgun, marijuana and a digital scale, he said. Rodger Purvis, 47, was taken i…
Rochelle Park PD: Englewood Passenger Caught Carrying Loaded Gun Bought In Paterson Rochelle Park PD: Englewood Passenger Caught Carrying Loaded Gun Bought In Paterson
Rochelle Park PD: Englewood Passenger Caught Carrying Loaded Gun Bought In Paterson A Rochelle Park police officer early Saturday found an Englewood passenger in a traffic stop carrying a loaded gun bought on the streets of Paterson, authorities said. Acting Sgt. Jared Shatkin stopped a vehicle on Route 17 and searched it after smelling pot, Detective Lt. James DePreta said. Shatkin found a .380-caliber handgun, along with some marijuana and drug paraphernalia, DePreta said. The passenger, Tremaine Whiteside, 22, was charged with weapons and drug offenses and sent to the Bergen County Jail to await a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack. Th…
Rochelle Park PD Rescues NY Con Man Kidnapped By Pair Who Lost $20,000 In ‘Black Money’ Scam Rochelle Park PD Rescues NY Con Man Kidnapped By Pair Who Lost $20,000 In ‘Black Money’ Scam
Rochelle Park PD Rescues NY Con Man Kidnapped By Pair Who Lost $20,000 In ‘Black Money’ Scam A Rochelle Park police officer rescued a man who was kidnapped from a local motel by two Passaic County men after an accomplice fled with their money in a scam gone wrong, authorities said. Amady Kourouma, 31, of New York and a partner convinced the two Passaic County men that they could earn $60,000 by purchasing “dirty” money from them that had been dyed to avoid detection by authorities, Detective Lt. James DePreta said. “Black money washing” is a popular scam. Victims are less likely to report it given their participation in an apparent crime, authorities say. In this case, Jairo Mende…