On May 9, 2024, at approximately 7:55 p.m., Police Officer Anthony Hochstadter
and Shyenna Vega responded to the 500 block of Madison Street, on reports of a
car blocking a driveway, with the driver sleeping behind the wheel. They
approached the vehicle which was parked in front of a fire hydrant with the engine
running, and they observed a man, later identified as 41-year-old Jose Palta of
Jersey City, in the driver’s seat. He appeared to be sleeping and drooling. The
officers knocked on the windows several times to try and wake him up, which he
eventually did. Officers opened the door, shut off the car, and removed the keys
from the ignition. Officers observed his eyes to be glassy, his behavior lethargic,
and smelled the odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath. Police
Officers Joseph Spano, Marvin DeJesus, Cynthia Rivera, and Remy Garcia-Marte
arrived on the scene to assist. Officers observed one empty beer can, one empty
beer bottle, and three unopened beer bottles in the vehicle. Palta refused a
standardized field sobriety test multiple times and he was placed under arrest for
driving while intoxicated. He was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters and
issued a summons for driving while intoxicated, being an unlicensed driver, and
for blocking a fire hydrant. As per John’s Law, Palta was released into the custody
of a responsible party.
On May 10, 2024, at approximately 12:40 a.m., Sgt. James Barbro and Police
Officers Aaron Font, Nicholas Protopapadakis, Christopher Soto, David Chicara,
Shawn Sodora, and Alexander Miller responded to the Hoboken University
Medical Center on reports that a patient, later identified as 44-year-old Juan Lopez,
of Jersey City had a firearm in his possession. When the officers arrived, they
immediately secured the weapon, which was loaded. They also found a folding
knife and canister of pepper spray in Lopez’ bag. It was later discovered the
handgun had been reported stolen in Tennessee in 2003. It was also discovered that
Lopez was previously convicted of robbery and aggravated assault, making him a
person not allowed to possess a weapon. While assigned to watch Lopez at the
hospital, Police Officer Teddy Santiago found a clear glass container with a yellow
fluid inside, believed to be PCP. Lopez was charged with unlawful possession of a
handgun, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of hollow
point bullets, receiving stolen property, possession with intent to distribute CDS,
two counts of possession of a firearm for unlawful purposes, and possession of a
weapon for unlawful purposes. He was issued a summons with a court date and
released from police custody.
On May 10, 2024, at approximately 10:50 p.m., Police Officers Nasir Willey and
Harry Montalvo responded to the Hoboken University Medical Center, 308 Willow
Ave., on reports of a woman, who was identified as 33-year-old Cassandra
Montanez of Union City, walked into the lobby and threw a bottle at employees at
the registration desk. She left but came back and threw another glass bottle at the
sliding entrance doors before fleeing the area. A warrant was issued on charges of
aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of weapons
for unlawful purposes. It was also learned that Montanez had outstanding warrants
in Jersey City for simple assault and theft. A few days later, on May 13, 2024,
Police Officers Jessica Arebalo and Arturo Gonzalez arrested Montanez when she
came into police headquarters to inquire about lost property. She was processed on
all the charges and transported to Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On May 11, 2024, at approximately 1:20 a.m., Police Officer Frank Losurdo and
Harry Montalvo responded to the 1100 block of Adams Street on reports of a man
slumped forward in the driver seat of a car. When they arrived, they saw the
vehicle blocking the entrance to a parking lot on the corner of 11th and Adams
Street and observed damage to the front end of the car. They approached the car
and observed the driver, later identified as 44-year-old Derek DiNapoli of Clifton,
sleeping with his hand on the gear shift. After several verbal commands, DiNapoli
woke up and appeared to be under the influence. He was unable to answer basic
questions or complete words. While speaking with DiNapoli, officers could see
several wax folds containing suspected CDS heroin in his lap. He was told to exit
the car, which he did, and dropped the wax folds that were in his lap onto the
street. He was advised that he was being placed under arrest and handcuffed. A
search incident to arrest found 26 wax folds containing a white powdery substance
suspected to be CDS heroin; some were dropped as he exited the car, and others
were in his pocket. Officers found additional wax folds on the floor of the front
passenger seat. Police Officers Nicholas Protopapadakis and Christopher Soto
arrived on the scene. A search of the vehicle located 21 additional empty wax folds
of CDS in a brown paper bag. During transport to the Hoboken Police Department,
DiNapoli yelled at officers, threatening them with physical violence. He was
charged with possession of CDS, making terroristic threats, and possession of drug
paraphernalia. He was issued a summons for driving while intoxicated and
possession of CDS in a motor vehicle. He was transported to the Hudson County
Correctional Facility.
On May 11, 2024, at approximately 2:40 a.m., Police Officers Aaron Font and
Shawn Sodora responded to the 200 block of Washington Street, after Lt. Donald
Rosso was flagged down by three pedestrians who were struck in a hit and run.
Witnesses gave officers a description of the vehicle and the license plate number
and said the driver fled northbound on Washington Street. The victims were treated
on scene by the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps and two of the three were
transported to area hospitals. Weehawken Police located the vehicle in their
jurisdiction and stopped it around 24th Street and Palisade Avenue. The driver,
later identified as 24-year-old Fredis Avila Vasquez of Union City, was taken into
custody in Weehawken. Hoboken Police Officer Joshua Campoverde arrived on
the scene to conduct a field sobriety test, after which Vasquez was placed under
arrest. He was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters and issued a summons
for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident
with injury. He was also charged with three counts of assault by auto. As per
John’s Law, he was released into the custody of a responsible party.
On May 11, 2024, at approximately 5:13 a.m., Police Officer Christopher Soto and
Nicholas Protopapadakis responded to the 1500 block of Hudson Street on reports
of a theft. The suspect was at an Exxon Gas Station in Weehawken, with
Weehawken Police already on scene. Officers learned that a concierge left the front
desk of a building for a few moments, and when she returned, she realized that a
bag holding an Apple watch, Apple Air Pods, and iPhone charger, along with her
wallet and makeup bag were missing. She looked at surveillance video and saw a
man pry open the lobby door, go behind the desk, and steal the bag and wallet. A
family member noticed a person matching the description of the suspect at the gas
station and called police. The person in question, later identified as 24-year-old
Bryan Alvarez-Caceras of Dumont, was arrested. Hoboken Police transported him
to Hoboken Police Headquarters where he was charged with burglary and theft
before being released on a summons.
On May 11, 2024, at approximately 4:50 p.m., Police Officers Jessica Pizanie and
Jason Montalvo were patrolling the Hoboken Housing Authority on the 200 block
of Harrison Street when they saw a woman they recognized as 42-year-old Shavon
Smith, and knew she was not a resident. When they approached Smith, they
observed her starting to light a glass cylindrical pipe commonly used to smoke
CDS. As police began to handcuff her, she attempted to run away. She was caught
almost immediately and placed under arrest. Smith was transported to Hoboken
Police Headquarters for processing on charges of resisting arrest, possession of
drug paraphernalia, and defiant trespassing. She was transported to the Hudson
County Correctional Facility.
On May 12, 2024, at approximately 2:05 a.m., Police Officers Frank Losurdo and
Nicholas Protopapadakis responded to the Hoboken University Medical Center,
308 Willow Ave., on reports of a woman, later identified as 49-year-old Patricia
Lavacchi of Hoboken, making threats of violence toward Sgt. Chris Labruno who
was on assignment in the hospital. Lavacchi was arrested and transported to
Hoboken Police Headquarters where she was processed on charges of making
terroristic threats. She was transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On May 13, 2024, at approximately 8:50 a.m., Police Officers Arturo Gonzalez,
Anthony Azzoline, Tyrone Huggins, and Harold Milne were patrolling the
Hoboken Housing Authority when they observed a man walk into a building on the
500 block of Marshall Drive. When they approached the man, later identified as
25-year-old Manuel Fuentes Chica of West New York, he could not produce proof
that he lived in the HHA building and provided a fake age. A search incident to
arrest recovered two glass cylinders both with a steel wool fiber filter and burn
marks commonly referred to as a crack pipe, one metal rod commonly used as a
push rod to clear out a crack pipe, a straw, four pieces of steel wool fiber, and one
small transparent gray color plastic container with cap lid, commonly used to
transport and store controlled dangerous substance. They also found nine pieces of
ripped wax folds, one ripped wax fold which contained a white powdery substance
believed to be CDS heroin, and a piece of plastic wrap containing a powdery white
rock believed to be CDS crack cocaine. Police Officer Joseph Lupo arrived on the
scene. Fuentes Chicas was transported to police headquarters where he was
processed for hindering his own apprehension, criminal trespassing, possession of
CDS heroin, possession of CDS crack cocaine, and possession of drug
paraphernalia. He was released on a summons.
On May 13, 2024, at approximately 2:10 p.m., Police Officers Daniel Grossi and
Jesse Castellano were driving near the intersection of Fifth and Madison Streets
when they saw a man they recognized as 33-year-old Armando Torres of Jersey
City walking with a white garbage bag that appeared to be filled with items. They
circled the block and saw him no longer holding the bag, but rather a package in
plastic wrapping. They pulled over, exited the vehicle, and approached Torres
while identifying themselves as police officers. They could see he was holding a
pair of women’s pants which Torres couldn’t produce a receipt for. They placed
Torres under arrest and a search incident to arrest revealed more stolen women's
clothing items, including a shirt and shorts. They also found two glass cylindrical
pipes containing a brown residue on the tip commonly used to smoke suspect CDS
crack cocaine. Police Officer Jennifer Lee arrived on the scene and transported
Torres to Hoboken Police Headquarters. Torres was charged with receiving stolen
property and possession of drug paraphernalia. Torres was remanded to the
Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On May 13, 2024, at approximately 1:50 p.m., Police Officers Harold Milne,
Anthony Azzoline, and Joseph Lupo were on the 400 block of Jackson Street when
they saw a man they recognized as 47-year-old Joshua Martinez of Hoboken who
they knew had two warrants out of Hoboken, both for aggravated assault on the
same victim. On April 14, 2024, Police Officers Aaron Font and Teddy Santiago
took a report in which the victim said Martinez swung a knife at his face before the
victim ran off. A few days later, on April 17, 2024, Police Officer Frank
Francolino took a report in which the victim said Martinez grabbed a large stick
and swung it twice at the victim; once narrowly missing his head and the second
time hitting him in the shoulder, breaking the stick. Martinez found a mop in a
garbage can and started to unscrew the mop head, making the victim believe he
was planning to use the stick as a weapon, but the victim was able to get away.
Martinez was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a
weapon for unlawful purposes, and the unlawful possession of a weapon. Those
charges were placed on a warrant. On May 13, Officers Milne and Azzoline
stopped and detained Martinez and confirmed the warrants. Martinez was placed
under arrest. A search incident to arrest located a jagged cylindrical glass pipe
burnt at one end containing burnt copper mesh commonly known as a crack pipe, a
metal push rod commonly used to pack and clean the pipe, a small plastic bag
wrapped in a knot containing a white crystalized rock suspected to be CDS crack
cocaine, and a white wax fold containing white powder suspected to be CDS
heroine. He was further charged with possession of CDS crack cocaine, possession
of CDS heroine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Martinez was processed on
all charges and ultimately transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On May 13, 2024, at approximately 7:50 p.m., Lt. Michael Costello and Police
Officers Jessica Pizanie and Jessica Arebalo responded to the 200 block of
Bloomfield Street on reports of a homeless person refusing to leave the doorway of
a business. When they arrived, they found 58-year-old Lea Lim, and told her she
needed to leave the doorway. Lim disregarded orders and began to move her
property in and out of bags, blocking the entrance and exit to the business inside.
Officers began to help her move her property out of the way and she took a
fighting stance against them and attempted to engage in a physical altercation.
When she was informed that she was under arrest, she began to flail her arms,
tense up, and pulled away. She was eventually placed under arrest and transported
to headquarters for processing on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting
arrest. She was released with a summons.
On May 13, 2024, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Police Officer Ramon Estrella was
driving on 14th Street near Bloomfield Street when he came upon a car crash, with
no injuries involved. It was learned that one of the drivers, identified as 21-yearold Neovanni Caraballo of Jersey City was not the registered owner of the vehicle
he was driving. A check of his driver's license status revealed that he had an
outstanding warrant out of Jersey City. He was arrested and transported to
Hoboken Police Headquarters for processing. He was released with a new court
date.
On May 14, 2024, at approximately 12:50 a.m., Police Officers Nasire Willey and
Daniela Simone responded to the 100 block of Monroe Street on reports of a fight.
When they arrived, they observed four people having a verbal altercation. On
scene investigation revealed that an actor, identified as 18-year-old Kalil Blake of
Hoboken took a family member's vehicle and when another family member tried to
stop him, Blake punched him in the face. That person did not want to file a
complaint. Blake was arrested and transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters.
He was charged with unlawful taking by means of conveyance, issued a summons
for driving without a license, and released.
On May 14, 2024, at approximately 2:25 p.m., Sgt. Anthony Russo and Police
Officers Daniel Grossi and Jesse Castellano were driving on the 300 block of
Jackson Street when they saw a man they recognized as 49-year-old Kenneth
Salazar of Union City, who they knew was wanted on a warrant out of Hoboken
for shoplifting. They confirmed the warrant, and he was placed under arrest. Police
Officers Dylan Archilla and Jessica Lee arrived on scene. A search incident to
arrest revealed one glass cylindrical pipe containing a brown residue suspected to
be CDS crack cocaine. He was additionally charged with possession of drug
paraphernalia. He was processed at Hoboken Police Headquarters and transported
to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On May 14, 2024, at approximately 8:50 p.m., Police Officer Daniel Grossi met
with a man, identified as 50-year-old Timothy Bracero of Jersey City, who walked
into Hoboken Police Headquarters to turn himself in on a traffic related summons.
Bracero was placed under arrest and further charged with bail jumping. He was
transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On May 14, 2024, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Police Officers Jason Montalvo and
Ramon Calderon responded to ShopRite, 900 Madison St., on reports of a
shoplifter that had been detained by store security. When they arrived, they learned
that the actor, later identified as 23-year-old Anyi Calderon of the Bronx, was seen
concealing items in a stroller and then walk past the registers without paying for
nine items, which came to a total of approximately $205.35. Calderon was
transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters where she was charged with
shoplifting. She was released on a summons.
On May 14, 2024, at approximately 11:50 p.m., Police Officer Matthew Bonanno
responded to Hoboken Police Headquarters, to process the arrest of 26-year-old
Kayla Moreno of Hoboken, who had walked into Police Headquarters to turn
herself in on multiple warrants out of Hoboken for burglary, shoplifting, theft, and
loitering to obtain or distribute CDS. She was additionally charged with failure to
appear. After being processed, Moreno was transported to the Hudson County
Correctional Facility.
On Wednesday May 15, 2024, at approximately 6:30 a.m., Police Officers
Alexander Miller and Anthony Ingraffia were patrolling on the 600 block of
Washington Street when they observed a man who matched the description of 33-
year-old Kemar Dickenson of Hoboken, who was wanted on an active warrant for
resisting arrest from the Hudson County Sheriff's Department. Lt. Edward Sellick
and Police Officer Keven De La Cruz arrived on the scene to assist. Dickenson was
advised he had an active warrant and was placed under arrest. He was transported
to Hoboken Police Headquarters and processed. He was transported to the Hudson
County Correctional Facility.
On May 15, 2024, at approximately 2:55 p.m., Detective Michael Losurdo, Sgt.
Savario Binetti, and Police Officers Nick Valerius and Jessica Pizanie responded to
the 500 block of Jackson Street, where a man known to them as 41-year-old David
Diaz of Hoboken was observed. Diaz was wanted on multiple warrants including
resisting arrest. As Diaz saw officers approaching, he dropped a bicycle he had in
his possession and began to run up a staircase. When he was advised to stop by
police, he did not comply and ran up to a second-floor landing and then went into
an apartment, which is where officers were able to safely place him under arrest. A
search incident to arrest located three foldable knives, a package of razor blades,
and a glass pipe, burnt at both ends which is commonly used to smoke CDS crack
cocaine. Diaz was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters where he was
processed. He was found to have an open warrant for trespassing. Diaz was also
wanted on a warrant issued May 8 by Sgt. Adam Colon for resisting arrest, eluding
an officer after he fled from police. After being arrested he was also charged with
riding an electric bicycle on a sidewalk, riding a bicycle the wrong way on a oneway street, and receiving stolen property. That was in connection to reports of a
bicycle theft reported on May 13, on the 300 block of Garden Street. Diaz was
ultimately transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at approximately 4:10 p.m., Police Officers
Shelby Seickendick and Shyenna Vega were in the area of 300 Harrison Street
when they observed individuals, they knew to be 27-year-old Donasia Hicks of
Elizabeth and 24-year-old Amir Goodwin of Hoboken and knew they both had
active warrants. Police Officers Remy Garcia-Marte, Christopher Barral, Mark
Mooreman, and Kyle Seper were also on the scene. Both were arrested and
transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters. Goodwin was processed on a warrant
from the Hudson County Sheriff's Office for aggravated assault. Hicks was
processed on stalking. Hicks and Goodwin were transported to the Hudson County
Correctional Facility.
