Paterson man accused of breaking into cars in Fair Lawn, ramming officer's cruiser
Monday, October 17, 2011
BY DENISA R. SUPERVILLE
STAFF WRITER
The Record
FAIR LAWN — A
Paterson man who police say broke into at least three cars in the borough and neighboring towns was in custody Monday, charged with burglary and aggravated assault on a police officer, authorities said.
Jose N. Lopez, 33, was charged with three counts of burglary, two counts of theft of movable property, one count of hindering apprehension or prosecution, one count of possession of burglar’s tools and one count of aggravated assault on a police officer for attempting to ram an undercover officer’s car with a stolen vehicle, police said.
Lopez was being held at the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack with bail set at $110,000, said Lt. Robert Kneer of the Fair Lawn police, who set up a surveillance team of three officers that led to Lopez’s arrest on Saturday. Additional charges may be added, Kneer said.
The surveillance detail went into action around 7:10 a.m. on Route 4 east, hoping that Lopez would strike. The detail was formed based on reports of someone breaking into cars in parking lots along the highway, Kneer said.
Police had a description of Lopez, including what he would wear — a hat, grey hooded sweatshirt, and sneakers with red laces, Kneer said.
Around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, a man matching the description — down to the red laces— was spotted walking east on Route 4 west, Kneer said.
Kneer and another officer, Anthony Lugo, identified the man as Lopez.
Lopez made his way across the highway to Brake World, where a woman parked a 2005 Honda Accord and left the engine running, police said.
Officer Timothy O’Shaughnessy saw Lopez eye the car, enter it and start to drive it out of the parking lot, Kneer said.
When officers attempted to stop Lopez from leaving the lot, Lopez allegedly tried to ram the unmarked car that Kneer was in, he said. Officers were able to stop Lopez near Plaza Road and Ellington Road, Kneer said.
After he was arrested, Fair Lawn police ran a background check on Lopez and found that he apparently had an outstanding arrest warrant from Tampa, Fla., on a charge of grand theft auto, Kneer said.
The charges against Lopez include the theft of a van from Elmwood Park, Kneer said.
E-mail: superville@northjersey.com
Heroin users crash into a parked vehicle on River Road then crash into front gate of neighboring company.
Pair faces drug charges after hit-and-run accident
Friday, September 24, 2010
BY JUSTIN ZAREMBA
Community News (Fair Lawn Edition)
Staff Writer
Police
Fair Lawn — Officers arrested two individuals allegedly under the influence of heroin following a hit-and-run accident last week.
Police Sgt. Derek Bastinck said police received a report of a Ford Escape sideswiping a Ford Taurus on River Road near Lyons Avenue at 2:09 p.m. on Sept. 23. Bastinck said the vehicle fled north on River Road and turned left at Bergen Avenue before turning left onto 3rd Street. No injuries were reported for occupants of the Ford Taurus, Bastinck said.
The driver of the Ford Escape ï¾? Stacey Cueto Jr., 37, of New Milford ï¾? kept driving straight on 3rd Street and crashed through the closed front gate of the Clariant Property at the intersection of Fair Lawn Avenue.
Police said the front seat passenger got out of the car prior to police arriving on the scene. He was not under the influence and not charged, authorities said. His name was not released.
Officers detained all individuals at the scene following the car crash and found suspected crack cocaine during their investigation, police said.
Cueto and Ezekiel M. Peoples, 31, of Paterson ï¾? the rear seat passenger ï¾? were taken to Bergen Regional Medical Center for medical evaluation. They were released into police custody. Both were charged with being under the influence of heroin, with possession of suspected crack cocaine and resisting arrest. Cueto was also charged with driving while intoxicated. Both individuals were later released on their own recognizance.
E-mail: zaremba@northjersey.com
Police
NICK MESSINA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Police charged two men with being under the influence of heroin after the vehicle they were in crashed through the gate at the Clariant Property at the intersection of Fair Lawn Avenue.
Fair Lawn — Officers arrested two individuals allegedly under the influence of heroin following a hit-and-run accident last week.
Police Sgt. Derek Bastinck said police received a report of a Ford Escape sideswiping a Ford Taurus on River Road near Lyons Avenue at 2:09 p.m. on Sept. 23. Bastinck said the vehicle fled north on River Road and turned left at Bergen Avenue before turning left onto 3rd Street. No injuries were reported for occupants of the Ford Taurus, Bastinck said.
The driver of the Ford Escape ï¾? Stacey Cueto Jr., 37, of New Milford ï¾? kept driving straight on 3rd Street and crashed through the closed front gate of the Clariant Property at the intersection of Fair Lawn Avenue.
Police said the front seat passenger got out of the car prior to police arriving on the scene. He was not under the influence and not charged, authorities said. His name was not released.
Buy this photo
Fair Lawn EMTs transport the driver of a vehicle that crashed through a fence at the Clariant Property after a hit-and-run accident.
Officers detained all individuals at the scene following the car crash and found suspected crack cocaine during their investigation, police said.
Cueto and Ezekiel M. Peoples, 31, of Paterson ï¾? the rear seat passenger ï¾? were taken to Bergen Regional Medical Center for medical evaluation. They were released into police custody. Both were charged with being under the influence of heroin, with possession of suspected crack cocaine and resisting arrest. Cueto was also charged with driving while intoxicated. Both individuals were later released on their own recognizance.
E-mail: zaremba@northjersey.com
Eight arrested in undercover drug sweep in Waldwick and Fair Lawn
Friday, July 23, 2010
BY WILLIAM LAMB
The Record
STAFF WRITER
Eight men from Waldwick, Fair Lawn and Garfield have been arrested, accused of selling marijuana and prescription painkillers to undercover detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, authorities said.
The men were arrested early Tuesday, ending a four-month undercover investigation, said John L. Molinelli, the Bergen County prosecutor. The men were accused of selling the drugs in Waldwick and Fair Lawn, Molinelli said.
The men arrested Tuesday were identified as Michael Occipinti, 19, Chris Ryan, 18, Eric Massenaro, 21, and Steven Avagnano, 20, all of Waldwick; Anthony Tomasso, 24, and Allen Khanchik, 24, both of Fair Lawn; and Ian Patterson, 28, of Garfield.
The eighth suspect was identified only as an underage male from Waldwick.
The suspects were arraigned Wednesday on various drug charges, including distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.
Eight men from Waldwick, Fair Lawn and Garfield have been arrested, accused of selling marijuana and prescription painkillers to undercover detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, authorities said.
Eight men from Waldwick, and Garfield have been arrested, accused of selling marijuana and prescription painkillers to undercover detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, authorities said.
The men were arrested early Tuesday, ending a four-month undercover investigation, said John L. Molinelli, the Bergen County prosecutor. The men were accused of selling the drugs in Waldwick and Fair Lawn, Molinelli said.
The men arrested Tuesday were identified as Michael Occipinti, 19, Chris Ryan, 18, Eric Massenaro, 21, and Steven Avagnano, 20, all of Waldwick; Anthony Tomasso, 24, and Allen Khanchik, 24, both of Fair Lawn; and Ian Patterson, 28, of Garfield.
The eighth suspect was identified only as an underage male from Waldwick.
The suspects were arraigned Wednesday on various drug charges, including distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.
These two suspects were also charged with the Fair Lawn 7-11 Store Armed Robbery!
Two nights after robbing the Fair Lawn 7-11 Store, while robbing a gas station in Wayne, the suspects opened fire on an arriving Wayne Police Officer ultimately shooting him in the head.
Arrests made in officer’s shooting
Thursday, June 10, 2010
LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY JUNE 10, 2010, 1:25 AM
BY DEBRA WINTERS
WAYNE TODAY
WAYNE – Two men were arrested in the early morning hours Sunday by SWAT teams from Bergen and Passaic counties in connection with the shooting of a Wayne police officer last month, according to authorities.
Nelson Otero, 46, of Fort Lee, and Maxcime Cagen, 46, of Floral Park, N.Y., are accused in over a dozen armed robberies of gas stations, convenience stores, and liquor stores in several counties over the past three months and multiple weapons charges, as stated in a press release from Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli.
Both men, who are convicted felons, were about to commit another robbery when their vehicle was pulled over at about 1 a.m. in Palisades Park, authorities said.
As reported by police, Cagen was carrying a .9-mm semi-automatic weapon, an assortment of ammunition, and a ballistic vest, upon his apprehension.
Cagen is also wanted by New York City Police in connection with a June 5 homicide that took place in Queens. Other unidentified suspects along with Cagen are connected to multiple robberies in the Bronx over the last few months, said Molinelli.
A search of Otero’s house resulted in the confiscation of a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun, drug paraphernalia as well as proceeds from the robberies, authorities said.
Both Cagen and Otero were charged with the attempted murder of Patrolman Brian Worell, a 14-year veteran with the Wayne Police. Worell was responding to a robbery of an Exxon Tiger Mart, on Route 23 shortly after midnight on May 10.
The robbers directed Worell not to touch his gun. When he sought cover behind his patrol car, two rounds were fired at him with one bullet grazing the left side of his head leaving a four inch gash. He radioed for help and chased after the suspects, who took off up Packanack Lake Road. When back-up arrived, Worell was transported to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, where he was treated and released.
According to reports, the robbers entered the Tiger Mart and directed three employees towards the back of the store while they grabbed cash and cigarettes. Some patrons had entered the store at the time and were also brought to the back of the store. Before exiting, the actors took seven victims in total into an office located on the opposite side of the store.
As was reported, authorities formed a task force devised of participants from Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic counties after similar hits took place in areas such as Rahway, Edison, Elizabeth, North Bergen, Fair Lawn, Secaucus, and Elmwood Park.
“The members of our department are very pleased with the outcome of the individuals responsible. It was a job well done by all persons involved in the search,” said Wayne Police Capt. Paul Ireland. Both were arrested without incident when their car was boxed in by a Passaic County Sheriff’s Department armored vehicle known as a BearCat, along with other SWAT vehicles.
In addition, Cagen and Otero were also charged with conspiring to commit a robbery with Hugh Hodge, 46, of East Stroudsburg, Pa., and Alfredo Ordonez, 33, of West New York.
Ordonez was arrested on Sunday at his residence. It was expected that Hodge would be arrested this coming Sunday, Molinelli said.
Bail was set at $750,000 for the Bergen County offenses with no 10 percent option.
And according to Ireland, bail was set at $1 million for the charges set forth by the Wayne jurisdiction.
E-mail: wintersd@northjersey.com
