On June 27, 2024, at approximately 1 a.m., Detective Paul Quinn and Police
Officer Nicolas Losurdo were conducting a routine check of Pier A Park to advise
people that the park was closed, and they would have to leave. The officers
observed an intoxicated man approaching their vehicle. When they told him the
park was closed, he became irate and questioned why he had to leave. He matched
the description of an actor in an aggravated assault in the area on June 24. He was
identified as 37-year-old Jose Omar Rojas of Hoboken, and he had an outstanding
failure to appear warrant for simple assault out of Jersey City. He was transported
to Hoboken Police Headquarters and then to the Hudson County Correctional
Facility.
On June 27, 2024, at approximately 5:55 a.m., Police Officers Christopher Soto
and Frank Losurdo responded to the Hoboken Shelter, 300 Bloomfield Street on
reports of an assault. The caller, identified as 71-year-old Robert Blunt, of
Columbus, New Jersey, told officers that he got into an argument with another man
who then hit him in the face. Sgt. James Barbro arrived on the scene, as did the
Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps, who transported Blunt to an area hospital
for treatment. An on-scene investigation revealed the other man was in fact
defending himself, after Blunt first hit him with a cane. Blunt was arrested and
charged with simple assault and unlawful possession of weapons. He was also
processed on a warrant out of Lacey Township. He was released on a summons
with a court date.
On June 27, 2024, at approximately 12:35 p.m., Police Officers Joseph DiMartino
and Tyrone Huggins were near the intersection of Newark and Washington Streets
when they saw a motorcycle being operated on the sidewalk. They watched the
operator make a left turn onto Washington Street while the traffic light was red.
They pulled the motorcycle over near the intersection of Observer Highway and
Bloomfield Street. The motorcycle did not have a valid license plate. The driver,
identified as 25-year-old Ailin Zorrilla of Union City, didn’t have a valid license.
She had a receipt for the motorcycle, but a search of the VIN number found that
the bike was reported stolen in New York. Sgt. Steven Kranz and Police Officers
Roberto Cuevas and Shyenna Vega arrived on the scene. Zorrilla was arrested for
receiving stolen property and transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters for
processing. She was also issued motor vehicle summonses for failure to observe
the traffic signal, driving on a sidewalk, having an unregistered vehicle, and
driving without a license. She was given a copy of her summons and released. The
motorcycle was towed from the scene.
On June 27, 2024, at approximately 6 p.m., Police Officers Arturo Gonzalez and
Anish Bhisey responded to Hoboken Police Headquarters, where 57-year-old
Henry Lee Carter of Newark turned himself in on an open and active warrant for
loitering to obtain or distribute CDS. He was found to be in possession of a glass
cylinder with steel wool and burnt ends containing possible CDS residue, two long,
thin pieces of wood, a thin metal rod, and one medium-width metal rod all of
which are associated with using CDS. He was processed on the active warrant and
further charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. He was ultimately
transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On June 27, 2024, at approximately 11:45 p.m., Police Officer Frank Losurdo
responded to the 500 block of Observer Highway on reports of a car in the
roadway, with two people arguing inside. When he arrived, Officer Losurdo did
not believe the man and woman inside the vehicle were arguing. The driver,
identified as 29-year-old Shaquille Powell of Chicago, appeared to be confused
when asked basic questions, and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was
emanating from this breath. When requested, he was unable to provide a valid
driver’s license, insurance, or registration. Police Officers Arturo Gonzalez and
Anish Bhisey arrived on the scene to assist with the motor vehicle stop. Officer
Gonzalez conducted a basic field sobriety eye test. Police Officer Cynthia Rivera
arrived on the scene and conducted a Standardized Field Sobriety Test, after which
Powell was arrested. A search of his car located a bottle of cognac under the
passenger seat. He was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters where an
alcohol influence breath test was conducted. Powell was issued summons for
driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and having an open container of
alcohol in a vehicle. As per John’s Law, Powell was released into the custody of a
responsible party.
On June 28, 2024, at approximately 12:24 p.m., Police Officer Arturo Gonzalez
responded to the 900 block of Madison Street, on reports of an attempted theft. The
victim reported that while he was making a food delivery on the 800 block of
Madison Street, a man had pointed a gun at him and demanded his cell phone,
which the actor took and ran towards CKO Gym, 900 Madison St. The victim told
Detectives Luis Rodriquez and Christine Collins that he chased the suspect and
caught up to him, but the suspect punched him in the face, causing cuts to his
mouth. Officer Gonzalez and Police Officer Joseph Lupo searched the gym and
spoke to witnesses who said the suspect was seen placing the gun in his bag. Lt.
Luke Zeszotarski and Police Officers Brandon Fitzgibbons, Roberto Cuevas, and
Jonathan Figueroa arrived on the scene. The suspect was located inside ShopRite,
900 Madison St. When he was told he was under arrest, the suspect, later identified
as a 17-year-old juvenile from Jersey City, tried to run from officers and push
through them. While they were attempting to handcuff him, the juvenile refused to
follow orders and rather than placing his hands behind his back, he kept them in
front of him. Two responding officers were injured during the arrest. Hoboken
Volunteer Ambulance Corps arrived and treated the victim on the scene. The
injured officers were transported to an area hospital, for further evaluation. A
firearm, later determined to be an imitation handgun, was located in the juvenile’s
bag. He was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters and charged with
juvenile delinquency, robbery, unlawful possession of weapon, possession of a
weapon for unlawful purpose, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer
with injury, and resisting arrest. He was processed on all charges and transported to
the Morris County Juvenile Detention Center.
On June 30, 2024, at approximately 2 a.m.., Police Officers Nicholas
Protopapadakis and Joshua Campoverde were patrolling the area of Second and
Garden Streets, when they saw a car driving the wrong way down Garden Street.
They pulled the vehicle over and told the driver to park the car. The driver, later
identified as 22-year-old Antonio Ocampo of Union City, did not have a driver's
license or any other proof of identification. It was discovered Ocampo had two
open warrants out of Hudson County. He was arrested and transported to Hoboken
Police Headquarters where he was also issued summonses for driving the wrong
way on a one-way street and driving without a license. He was transported to the
Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On July 3, 2024, at approximately 11:50 a.m., Police Officers Enrico Gnassi and
Jennifer Lee responded to ShopRite, 900 Madison St., on reports of a shoplifting.
The actor, identified as 49-year-old Evelyn Aracena of Palisades Park, was in
custody of store security officers, who saw her place $203.56 worth of
merchandise in the bottom of a stroller. Store security stopped her when she
attempted to leave without paying. She gave officers incorrect addresses, date of
birth, and names. Aracena was arrested for shoplifting and hindering and
transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters. She was released on a summons.
On July 3, 2024, at approximately 3:05 p.m., Police Officers Pizanie and Anthony
Olivera responded to ShopRite, 900 Madison St., on reports of two shoplifters.
Store security had stopped the actors, identified as 58-year-old Sheila Panzarelli of
Hoboken and 64-year-old Janice Nuhic of Hoboken, after noticing they put items
into bags and then tried to leave without paying for items. Panzarelli had $56.62
worth of merchandise with her, and Nuhic had $56.62 when security stopped them
past the point of sale. Both were arrested for shoplifting, transported to Hoboken
Police Headquarters, processed, and released with a summons and court date.
On July 3, 2024, at approximately 7:50 p.m., Police Officers Harold Milne,
Shyenna Vega, Mark Mooreman, and Michael Losurdo were on the 300 block of
Jackson Street when they were approached by a woman who asked for assistance.
A man identified as 42-year-old Miguel Acevedo of Jersey City was with the
woman. The officers went to the woman’s home where an investigation revealed
Acevedo had a vehicle with a fictitious license plate. He was issued motor vehicle
complaints for having an unregistered vehicle and fictitious license plates. It was
also revealed he was wanted on a warrant in union City. He was arrested and
transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters for processing. He was later
transported to the Union City Police Department.
