For Immediate Release: June 27, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 35-year-old TAHJEE H. GOODWIN of Newark, NJ on charges stemming from a shooting investigation that has resulted in multiple arrests. This most recent arrest is the latest during a year-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Hackensack Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Antista. As previously reported, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hackensack Police Department were alerted to a shooting that occurred in the area of Newman Street in Hackensack. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified, responded to the scene, and initiated a joint investigation with the Hackensack Police Department. Preliminary investigation revealed that a drive-by shooting took place the day prior at approximately 6:10 p.m. At that time, a…

For Immediate Release: June 27, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 62-year-old FIDEL FERNANDEZ of Englewood, NJ on charges of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Englewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Greeley. On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, the New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency (“DCP&P”) contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding the alleged sexual assault of a child under the age of thirteen that occurred in Englewood, NJ. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Englewood Police Department revealed that FIDEL FERNANDEZ sexually assaulted and endangered a juvenile in Englewood, NJ on two occasions between the dates of May 10, 2025, and June 22, 2025.

For Immediate Release: June 16, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella provides the following additional information concerning the investigation into a police encounter in North Arlington, NJ on June 14, 2025. This investigation is being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck. On Saturday, June 14, 2025, at approximately 3:51 p.m., the Kearny Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Macfie, responded to a carjacking in the area of Belleville Turnpike in Kearny, NJ. Responding Kearny police officers determined that the victim, a ride-share driver, was transporting a fare along Belleville Turnpike near Kearny Avenue. The passenger, later identified as 42-year-old EMMANUEL ETIENNE of Bayonne, NJ, fired a handgun from the backseat of the vehicle in the direction of the driver during the ride. The bullet struck the interior of the vehicle, missing the driver. The ride-share driver exited the vehicle, and…

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information: In coordination with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office is continuing the investigation into a police encounter that resulted in serious injury on Saturday in North Arlington, NJ.  A preliminary investigation has so far revealed that just before 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2025, law enforcement confronted an armed suspect in connection with an ongoing armed carjacking investigation that originated in Kearny, NJ.  The suspect was located on Porete Avenue in North Arlington, NJ.  During that encounter, the armed suspect was shot by law enforcement and transported to an area hospital. The suspect was treated for a gunshot injury and has since been discharged.  The suspect remains in police custody while the investigation into the armed carjacking continues.  Additional details will be released when possible.  Likewise, the investigation into the police encounter…

For Immediate Release: June 13, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 32-year-old JOSE PINZON LOPEZ of Woodcliff Lake, NJ on child abuse charges. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Woodcliff Lake Police Department, under the direction of Chief Stephen Regula. On Thursday, June 12, 2025, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding an alleged incident of child abuse that had occurred in Woodcliff Lake, NJ. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Woodcliff Lake Police Department revealed that JOSE PINZON LOPEZ physically abused a juvenile in Woodcliff Lake, NJ on or about Wednesday, June 11, 2025. As a result of the investigation, on Thursday, June 12, 2025, JOSE PINZON LOPEZ was arrested in Woodcliff Lake,…

For Immediate Release: June 12, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced charges against two 18-year-old Bergen County men, both of whom were 17 years old at the time of the incident. These charges have been filed as a juvenile delinquency matter stemming from an armed robbery in Garfield, NJ, following a nearly year-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Garfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Delaney. On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at approximately 10:00 p.m., officers from the Garfield Police Department responded to an armed robbery on Westervelt Place. Upon arrival, officers located the victim who reported that individuals with handguns stole his property before fleeing. Accordingly, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified of the armed robbery and responded to the scene. A joint investigation with the Garfield Police Department was…

For Immediate Release: June 11, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of 18-year-old DAVON WHITE of Paterson, NJ and a 17-year-old juvenile from Passaic County, NJ on charges stemming from a carjacking incident that occurred in Lodi, NJ. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Lodi Police Department, under the direction of Chief Donald Scorzetti. On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at approximately 10:00 p.m., officers from the Lodi Police Department responded to a vehicle stolen from a commercial business on Route 46 West. Responding officers learned that the victim/owner of the stolen vehicle was alerted by witnesses that his vehicle was being stolen outside. The victim exited the business and ran toward the vehicle, ultimately jumping on the hood while the vehicle was stopped at a nearby red light. When…

For Immediate Release: June 6, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 23-year-old EMERSON D. PEREZ GARCIA of Palisades Park, NJ on charges of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Palisades Park Police Department, under the direction of Officer-In-Charge Captain George Beck. On Monday, June 2, 2025, the Palisades Park Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding an alleged sexual assault of a juvenile that had occurred last month in Palisades Park, NJ. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Palisades Park Police Department revealed that EMERSON D. PEREZ GARCIA sexually assaulted and endangered a juvenile in Palisades Park, NJ in May 2025. As a result of the investigation, on Wednesday, June…

Immediate Release: June 6, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 71-year-old MANUEL A. BARRANTES of Fort Lee, NJ on charges of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Teaneck Police Department, under the direction of Chief Andrew McGurr. On Thursday, May 29, 2025, the Teaneck Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding the alleged sexual assault of a juvenile that occurred in the past. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Teaneck Police Department revealed that MANUEL A. BARRANTES sexually assaulted and endangered a child under the age of sixteen on multiple occasions between August 2016 and August 2018 in Teaneck, NJ. As a result of the investigation, on Thursday, June…