Underage Teen Sexually Assaulted Multiple Times By Tarrytown Man, Age 27: Prosecutor Underage Teen Sexually Assaulted Multiple Times By Tarrytown Man, Age 27: Prosecutor
Underage Teen Sexually Assaulted Multiple Times By Tarrytown Man, Age 27: Prosecutor A tipster led authorities to a warehouse manager from Westchester County who they said traveled to New Jersey for sex with an underage teen he met online. Eric Palese, age 27, of Tarrytown, sexually assaulted the under-16-year-old child multiple times, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said on Thursday, April 6. Based on the charges, it was at least a half-dozen times during the second and third weeks of March. Authorities began investigating the 6-foot, 270-pound Palese after the tip came in on Monday, the prosecutor said. Musella said the tipster reported that Palese "contacted the …
Arsonist Torches Mahwah Condo: Prosecutor Arsonist Torches Mahwah Condo: Prosecutor
Arsonist Torches Mahwah Condo: Prosecutor A Bergen County woman was arrested after officials say she started a fire in her bedroom at a condominium. Amel Mersali, 32, is facing an aggravated arson charge following an investigation into the fire at at 2102 Hawthorne Lane in Mahwah on Tuesday, April 4, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Following the fire, Mersali was transported to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus for treatment and evaluation, Musella said.  She will appear in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack when she is released from the hospital, Musella said. 
Undercover Sting Nails North Bergen Man Selling Half-Ounce Of Coke: Bergen Prosecutor Undercover Sting Nails North Bergen Man Selling Half-Ounce Of Coke: Bergen Prosecutor
Undercover Sting Nails North Bergen Man Selling Half-Ounce Of Coke: Bergen Prosecutor A North Bergen man was busted for allegedly selling a half ounce of cocaine to an undercover detective in Paramus, authorities said. Jose A. Hernandez, a 48-year-old construction worker, also had Adderall and Oxycodone for sale with him when he was arrested on Monday, March 27, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Hernandez “distributed approximately 15 grams of cocaine to an undercover detective,” the prosecutor said, adding that a search of his vehicle “revealed additional suspected Adderall pills, Oxycodone tablets, and packaging material.” Hernandez remained held Tuesday in the …
Out-Of-State Driver’s Secret Stash Held Two Kilos Of Coke: Bergen Prosecutor Out-Of-State Driver’s Secret Stash Held Two Kilos Of Coke: Bergen Prosecutor
Out-Of-State Driver’s Secret Stash Held Two Kilos Of Coke: Bergen Prosecutor A “sophisticated, electronically-operated” hidden compartment used by an out-of-state driver stopped by Bergen County detectives held two kilos of cocaine, authorities said. Narcotic Task Force investigators stopped the unidentified vehicle at an undisclosed location and found the drugs last Thursday, March 23, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. They arrested the driver, Gabriel A. Ortiz-Redondo, 29, of Orlando, Florida on first-degree charges of possessing the cocaine with the intent to sell it. A judge subsequently ordered that Ortiz-Redondo remain held in the Bergen County Jai…
GOTCHA! Arrest Made In DWI Hit-And-Run That Seriously Injured Closter Pedestrian, 75 GOTCHA! Arrest Made In DWI Hit-And-Run That Seriously Injured Closter Pedestrian, 75
Gotcha! Arrest Made In DWI Hit-And-Run That Seriously Injured Closter Pedestrian, 75 UPDATE: A 75-year-old retired bank vice president from Closter who was struck by a drunk hit-and-run driver on a local street has died. Charges have been upgraded against the driver, a 36-year-old Ecuadorian national and father of four living in Hackensack. SEE: Retired Bank Exec Struck In DWI Hit-And-Run In Closter Dies, Charges Against Driver Upgraded ****** UPDATE: An Ecuadorian national living in Hackensack who police said fled the scene after severely injuring a 75-year-old former bank vice president in Closter was drunk at the time, authorities said on Monday. Jesus T. Yunganaula T…
Bergenfield Construction Worker, 52, Charged With Sexually Assaulting Pre-Teen Bergenfield Construction Worker, 52, Charged With Sexually Assaulting Pre-Teen
Bergenfield Construction Worker, 52, Charged With Sexually Assaulting Pre-Teen A construction worker from Bergenfield was charged with sexually assaulting a pre-teen, authorities said. Julio Valencia, 52, was being held in the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack following his arrest on Tuesday, March 14, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. He's charged with sexual assault and child endangerment, the prosecutor said. The alleged actions occurred “on more than on occasion,” Musella said. Detectives from his Special Victims Unit are investigating with borough police, who initially alerted them to the …
Wayne Driver Charged With DWI Assault In Horrific Ridgewood Crash Wayne Driver Charged With DWI Assault In Horrific Ridgewood Crash
Wayne Driver Charged With DWI Assault In Horrific Ridgewood Crash UPDATE: A Wayne motorist was intoxicated when he crashed his sedan into a tree in Ridgewood, seriously injuring his two passengers, authorities charged. A rear passenger got thrown onto the front seat when the 2022 Honda Accord driven by Jason Lopez, 39, left the roadway and crashed at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Rock Road near the Glen Rock border shortly after 1:30 a.m. March 3, responders said. Police from the village and the borough teamed up to pry open a rear door and free the more severely injured passenger, who they said was initially unconscious but breathing. Lopez and…
Bergen Drug Detectives Nab Albany Driver Near GWB After Stolen Car Chase Bergen Drug Detectives Nab Albany Driver Near GWB After Stolen Car Chase
Bergen Drug Detectives Nab Albany Driver Near GWB After Stolen Car Chase A driver from Albany tried to outrun detectives in a stolen car but was seized near the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, authorities said. Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said his Narcotic Task Force detectives got wind on Tuesday, March 7 that a BMW 550 that had just been stolen during a burglary in Maplewood was headed their way. They tried stopping the driver, John Leroy Johnson, 38, in Englewood, the prosecutor said, but he kept going, apparently bound for the bridge. He “eventually pulled over and surrendered in Fort Lee,” Musella said. Johnson remained held Wednesday in t…
4½ Pounds Of Fentanyl Seized, Mexican Nationals Nabbed By DEA, Bergen Prosecutor's Detectives 4½ Pounds Of Fentanyl Seized, Mexican Nationals Nabbed By DEA, Bergen Prosecutor's Detectives
4½ Pounds Of Fentanyl Seized, Mexican Nationals Nabbed By DEA, Bergen Prosecutor's Detectives Federal agents took custody of two Mexican nationals from Texas who local authorities said were caught with several pounds of deadly fentanyl during a traffic stop in Little Ferry. Camerino Hernandez-Atanacio, 32, and Alexis Araujo-Atanacio, 19, both unemployed, had been living in a small house with an adjacent trailer in the West Texas town of Odessa, records show. DEA agents from New York City and Bergen County narcotics detectives arrested both men last Friday as part of an ongoing investigation into bulk drug shipments being moved through the area, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Mus…
Bergen Drug Detectives Nab Queens Driver In Stolen Car: Prosecutor Bergen Drug Detectives Nab Queens Driver In Stolen Car: Prosecutor
Bergen Drug Detectives Nab Queens Driver In Stolen Car: Prosecutor Bergen County drug detectives caught a Queens driver with a criminal history driving a car stolen out of Florida, authorities said. Wilbert Toussaint, 31, of Jamaica was released pending court action following his arrest on receiving stolen property charges, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Investigators working a drug case stopped Touissant at an undisclosed location. They "were able to confirm the vehicle was reported stolen from Clay County, Florida on February 16, 2023," Musella said. Toussaint's record includes charges a decade ago for selling fake credit cards in Montgom…
Woman Found Dead In Meadowlands Area Motel Room Woman Found Dead In Meadowlands Area Motel Room
Woman Found Dead In Meadowlands Area Motel Room Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a female guest in a hotel room near the Meadowlands. Concerns were raised after her companion was nowhere to be found following the overnight discovery of the body Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Super 8 Motel on Washington Avenue near Route 120 in Carlstadt. Responders said they suspect a drug overdose, but that determination will have to be made by the Bergen County Medical Examiner's Office after toxicology tests are completed. Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said his Major Crimes Unit is investigating. The woman's…
Raid At New Teaneck Apartment Complex Yields Arrests Of Couple, NYC Murder Suspect From PA Raid At New Teaneck Apartment Complex Yields Arrests Of Couple, NYC Murder Suspect From PA
Raid At New Teaneck Apartment Complex Yields Arrests Of Couple, NYC Murder Suspect From PA A Teaneck couple was arrested along with a Pennsylvania ex-con wanted in connection with a New York City homicide during a raid of the pair’s swanky apartment, authorities said. Rickey D. Richardson, 56, and Taisha Tamika Bramwell, 39, were seized following the SWAT-led operation late last week at the recently opened One500 luxury complex on Teaneck Road, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. They were later released pending court action, records show. Also arrested following the Feb. 23 raid was the target of the raid, Ron Reeder, 54, of Windber, PA, who’s being held in the Bergen C…