On September 28, 2023, at approximately 6:45 a.m., Police Officer Shawn Sodora responded to
the 900 block of Washington Street for reports of a man sleeping on a mattress on the sidewalk,
creating a hazardous condition. Sgt. Luke Zeszotarski and Police Officers Jesse Castellano and
Joseph Spano also arrived on the scene. The man, identified as 30-year-old John White of Jersey
City, was arrested for disorderly conduct, and transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters. He
was released on a summons.
On September 28, 2023, at approximately 3 p.m., Police Officer Dylan Archilla responded to
the 300 block of 13th Street for reports of a package theft. The package had been delivered on
Sunday, September 24, but was gone when the owner went to retrieve it. Officer Archilla
identified the actor as 64-year-old Jerry DiTrapani of Hoboken, inside the building during his
investigation. DiTrapani was placed under arrest for theft of moveable property, transported to
Hoboken Police Headquarters, processed, and released on a summons.
On September 28, 2023, at approximately 4 p.m., Police Officers Nicklas Valerius and Nicholas
Lasurdo responded to the 50 block of Grand Street for reports of a package theft. The officers
were able to identify the actor as 49-year-old Kenneth Maccagnano of Hoboken. A warrant was
generated charging him with theft. Later that day, at approximately 7:50 p.m., Police Officers
Harry Montalvo and Anthony Olivera were patrolling the area of Third and Jackson Streets when
they observed Maccagnano walking toward them. They approached him and placed him under
arrest for theft. A search incident to arrest of Maccagnano located a clear small bag containing a
white powdery substance suspected to be CDS, two glass cylindrical pipes, and other items often
used as drug paraphernalia including plastic straws, rod sticks, and copper wired mesh. He was
transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters, processed, and additionally charged with
possession of CDS, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Maccagnano was transported to the
Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On September 28, 2023, at approximately 9:17 p.m., Detective Ryan Houghton was in the area
of Third and River Streets when he saw a man walk up to a vehicle and make a transaction with
the driver. After the transaction was complete, the Detective saw the driver fail to properly use a
turn signal before turning multiple times and he stopped the vehicle at the intersection of Second
and Bloomfield Streets. The driver was identified as 30-year-old Christopher Rosario of Jersey
City. During an investigation, a large quantity of cash and unregulated cannabis was seized. Sgt.
Dennis Figueroa and Police Officers Nick Valerius, Damian Bates, and Shelby Seickendick
arrived on the scene. Rosario was arrested for possession with intent to distribute marijuana,
possession with intent to distribute hashish, sale of CDS/marijuana, possession with intent to
distribute marijuana within 500 feet of a park, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana
with 1,000 feet of a school. He was released on a summons.
On September 28, 2023, at approximately 10:50 p.m., Police Officers Harry Montalvo and
Anthony Oliver processed the arrest of 41-year-old Barbara Gerena of North Bergen who was
brought to Hoboken Police Headquarters by West New York Police Officers. She was found to
have five outstanding warrants including one out of Hoboken for burglary and theft, two out of
North Bergen, one out of Guttenberg, and one out of Union City. She was processed on all
warrants and remanded to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On Friday, September 29, 2023, at approximately 2 a.m., Police Officers Nicholas
Protopapadakis, Aaron Font, and Michael Straten responded to The Madd Hatter, 221
Washington St., for reports of a stabbing. When they arrived, they located one victim with nonlife-threatening stab wounds to the buttocks. Sgt. Luke Zeszotarski, Sgt. Dennis Figueroa,
Detective Ryan Hougton, and Police Officers Christopher Soto, Shawn Sodora, Enrico Gnassi,
Joseph Spano, Marvin Dejesus, and Matthew Bonanno arrived on scene. A perimeter was
established, the area canvassed, and evidence collected. A follow up investigation by Detective
Christine Collins positively identified 34-year-old William Paneque of Union City as the actor.
On Sunday, October 1, 2023, at approximately 5 p.m., Paneque turned himself in at Hoboken
Police Headquarters. He was processed by Police Officers Harold Milne and Anthony Azzoline
on charges of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, and unlawful
possession of a weapon, and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility. Read more
on this arrest and investigation at: https://hobokenpdnj.gov.
On September 29, 2023, at approximately 5:35 a.m., Police Officers Shawn Sodora and
Matthew Bonanno responded to a residential building on the 1000 block of Jefferson Street on
reports of a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a ski mask, inside the mail room. When
they arrived, the officers saw a man who fit the description of the suspect and knew him to be
26-year-old Jourdan Maldonado of Jersey City. Sgt. Luke Zeszotarski and Police Officer
Michael Straten arrived on the scene. Maldonado was placed under arrest for unlicensed entry of
a structure. A search incident to arrest found a screwdriver, hammer, drill, and pliers in his
backpack, and he was also charged with possession of burglar’s tools. He was processed and
released on a summons.
On September 30, 2023, at approximately 2:46 a.m., Police Officers Nicholas Protopapadakis,
Michael Straten, and Aaron Font responded to reports of a large fight outside of Basile's Pizzeria,
89 Washington St. When they arrived, they observed a man lying unconscious on the ground
with injuries to his head. As officers were treating the victim, a crowd formed around them
which included 22-year-old Jason Mendoza of Moonachie and 22-year-old Oscar Martinez of
Union City who ignored multiple orders to back up from the incident location. Other officers
arrived, and Mendoza ran through a perimeter they set up attempting to continue the fight. Sgt.
Luke Zeszotarski and other officers placed him under arrest, despite efforts to resist. Martinez
also attempted to continue the fight and he was placed under arrest. Both were transported to
Hoboken Police Headquarters. Mendoza was processed and charged with obstructing the
administration of the law and resisting arrest. Martinez was processed and charged with
obstructing the administration of the law. Both were released on summonses. The victim was
transported to Jersey City Medical Center by the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps where he
was treated for his injuries.
On September 30, 2023, at approximately 2:35 a.m., Police Officers Daniel Grossi and Anthony
Azzoline were driving on Newark Street approaching Washington Street when they observed a
vehicle that did not drive through a green light when it was supposed to. Shortly after it did drive
forward, the officers stopped the car on the 100 block of Bloomfield Street. When they
approached the driver, later identified as 30-year-old Preetham Padala of New Milford, they
detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage and observed his eyes to be bloodshot and his eye lids
droopy. Police Officers Michael Straten and Nicholas Protopapadakis arrived on scene. A
standardized field sobriety test was administered, after which it was determined Padala was
intoxicated and unable to safely operate a motor vehicle. He was placed under arrest for driving
while intoxicated. He was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters where he was processed
and issued additional summonses for delaying traffic, reckless driving, and refusal to submit
breath samples. As per John’s Law he was released into the custody of a responsible party.
On September 30, 2023, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Police Officer Arturo Gonzalez responded
to ShopRite, 900 Madison St., on reports of a shoplifting and an altercation between the actor
and store security. Police Officers Frank Francolino and Marco Grossmann arrived on the scene.
Security personnel told officers they saw the man, later identified as 30-year-old Algenis
Santana-Rameriz of Weehawken, placing four steaks with a total value of approximately $166
into a bag, and attempting to leave without paying. When the security guard tried to keep him
from going outside, Santana-Rameriz pushed the guard in the chest. Santana-Rameriz was placed
under arrest for robbery. It was discovered he had two warrants from New Jersey Transit Police
for failure to pay a fare and theft of services, and one warrant from Bergen County for criminal
attempt. He was transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On October 1, 2023, at approximately 1:35 a.m., Police Officers Andrias Bonilla and Kyle
Seper responded to the 400 block of Monroe Street to assist Police Officers Christopher Soto and
Jessica Arebalo with a motor vehicle stop, where a vehicle had been parked on the crosswalk of
Fifth and Monroe Street for about 30 minutes. When the officers approached the car, they
observed a man later identified as 40-year-old Antoine Smith of Brooklyn, laying fully reclined
in the driver's seat with drool coming out of his mouth and the engine off. The officers tried to
wake him up multiple times. Sgt. Luke Zeszotarski arrived on scene. A field sobriety test
determined Smith was impaired and unable to safely operate a motor vehicle. He was placed
under arrest and transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters. He was charged with parking on a
crosswalk, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving. As per John’s Law, he was released into
the custody of a responsible adult.
On October 1, 2023, at approximately 6 p.m., Police Officers Rose Kanan and Jason Montalvo
responded to Sparrow Wine & Liquor, 122 Washington St., on reports of a man threatening to
shoot an employee. Officers who were working at a local festival on Washington Street, also
responded. It was learned the employee had refused to sell alcohol to the suspect, later identified
as 37-year-old Kerwin Whaley of Jersey City, because he appeared intoxicated. Whaley was
upset by this, and told the employee, multiple times, he was going to shoot him. He left the store
before the officers arrived, but they observed Whaley a block away and stopped him. Whaley
was arrested and due to road closures in the area, was escorted to Hoboken Police Headquarters
on foot. During the walk, he threatened officers and their families. It was discovered he had a
state warrant from the state parole board. Whaley was charged with two counts of making
terroristic threats and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On October 3, 2023, at approximately 3:50 a.m., Police Officers Joseph Spano and Marvin
DeJesus were patrolling the area of Clinton and First Streets, when they observed a man lying in
the middle of the sidewalk. They approached the man, later identified as 42-year-old Kirby Ruiz
of Union City, who was unresponsive, but eventually woke up. Officers observed him to have
slurred speech. Lieutenant David Olivera, and Police Officers Jesse Castellano and Jason
Montalvo arrived on the scene. Officers observed a loose pill and a wax fold containing a white
powdery substance suspected to be CDS. Ruiz was placed under arrest for possession of a
controlled dangerous substance. A search incident to arrest located another wax fold containing a
white powdery substance suspected to be CDS and a cut yellow straw. He was transported to
Hoboken Police Headquarters, further charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and
possession of prescription or legend drugs without a prescription and released on a summons.
On October 3, 2023, at approximately 1:25 p.m., Police Officer Dylan Archilla responded to the
U.S. Post Office, 89 River St., on reports of fraud and a bad check. When he arrived, he observed
a man, later identified as 34-year-old Travis Panton of Brooklyn, walking with the Postmaster
who had recognized Panton as someone who tried to cash a US Treasury check addressed to
someone else. As the officer approached, Panton ran past him and out the door. Police Officer
Harold Milne joined Officer Archilla in a foot pursuit, and they caught him near the corner of
First and River Streets. Panton was handcuffed and transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters.
He was charged with exhibiting false government identification, forgery, obstructing the
administration of law, and identity theft. He was released with a summons.
On October 4, 2023, at approximately 6:05 p.m. Sgt. Edward Sellick and Police Officer Ramon
Calderon responded to the Hudson Square Salon, 205 Hudson St., on reports of a disorderly
female who previously worked at the salon. Officers observed the woman, later identified as 46-
year-old Michelle Ferreira of Kearny, yelling loudly and shouting expletives at the salon owner.
When she walked toward him in an aggressive manner, the officers tried to guide her away, but
she resisted by flailing her arms toward the officers, while yelling obscenities at them. At the
owner’s request, officers escorted Ferreira out of the salon. Despite warnings to not go back
inside, she attempted to do so and began banging on the glass window. As she did that, she was
placed under arrest. Due to the proximity, she was escorted on foot to Hoboken Police
Headquarters and charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing administration of law, and
harassment. She was released with a summons and court date.
On October 4, 2023, at approximately 5 p.m., Police Officers Nicholas Losurdo and Samuel
Flores responded to CVS, 210 14th St., on reports of a known shoplifter inside taking
merchandise without paying. The actor, later identified as 40-year-old Malik Easion of Hoboken,
had left by the time the officers arrived, but employees pointed them in the direction he fled.
They located Eaison about a block away on Garden Street. He attempted to flee, to no avail, and
was placed under arrest. A search incident to arrest discovered two white and green shopping
bags with over 20 items, totaling $218.49. Easion was found to have two warrants out of
Hoboken for shoplifting, from the same store on September 22 and September 30, and one
warrant from NJ Transit Police. He was charged with shoplifting and transported to the Hudson
County Correctional Facility.
On October 5, 2023, at approximately, 12:05 a.m., Police Officers Anthony Rutkowski and
Christopher Soto responded to Municipal Parking Garage G, 315 Hudson St., on reports of a
vehicle having pulled into the garage after hitting several other cars on the street. When they
arrived, the officers observed the SUV in question being driven erratically on the ground level
and then pulling into a reserved parking spot. The vehicle was partially inoperable with light
smoke coming from within the cabin. The officers approached the driver, identified as 23-yearold Raffaelle Spadavecchia of Hoboken, and observed his eyes to be extremely droopy and red,
and his movements slow. A field sobriety test was conducted, during which officers noticed
Spadavecchia to have difficulty standing straight, as he was swaying from side to side. The test
determined he was too impaired to safely operate a motor vehicle and Spadavecchia was placed
under arrest for driving while intoxicated. He was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters.
The on-scene investigation determined that Spadavecchia had driven the wrong way down
Hudson Street, collided with a parked car forcing it to strike a second parked vehicle, and then
pulled into the garage, hitting a concrete bollard and ripping it out of the ground. Spadavecchia
was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a motor
vehicle accident, and driving the wrong way on a one-way street. As per John’s Law, he was
released to a responsible party.
*The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless, and
until, proven guilty in a court of law.*
