For Immediate Release: September 29, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 35-year-old DONALD L. BUSH of Palisades Park, NJ on aggravated assault, simple assault, and 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 Palisades Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief George Beck. On Sunday, September 21, 2025, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding alleged child abuse that occurred in Palisades Park, NJ. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Palisades Park Police Department revealed that DONALD L. BUSH physically assaulted and abused a juvenile in Palisades Park, NJ on or about Sunday, September 21, 2025. As a result of the investigation, on Friday, September 26, 2025,…

For Immediate Release: September 26, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of 22-year-old JAROL LEDESMA of Brooklyn, NY; 21-year-old JAVIER PENA of Bronx, NY; 23-year-old JOSE PERALTA of Bronx, NY; 24-year-old JUSTIN MARTHA of Bronx, NY; and 28-year-old MICHAEL MERCEDES MARTE of Newark, NJ on charges stemming from an armed robbery in Fort Lee, NJ. The charges are the result of a months-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Fort Lee Police Department, under the direction of Chief Matthew Hintze. On Saturday, June 28, 2025, at approximately 4:00 a.m., the Fort Lee Police Department responded to an armed robbery in the parking lot of a hotel on Route 4 East in Fort Lee, NJ. Upon arrival, responding officers were met by several victims who reported that they were robbed at gunpoint…

For Immediate Release: September 25, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 52-year-old JAVIER E. TUFINO of Lodi, NJ on weapons-related offenses. These charges 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, September 24, 2025, the Lodi Police Department was investigating damage reported to a vehicle that was parked on Burns Avenue, which appeared to be from gunfire. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit was notified, responded to the scene, and initiated a joint investigation with the Lodi Police Department. The investigation revealed that on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at approximately 8:20 p.m., JAVIER E. TUFINO brandished a handgun on the street and fired four rounds at the unoccupied vehicle parked there. On Wednesday, September 24,…

For Immediate Release: September 25, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 25-year-old JUSTIN J. WILHELM of Landing, NJ for homicide and weapon-related offenses in New Milford, NJ. These charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the New Milford Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Clancy. On Thursday, September 25, 2025, at approximately 2:58 a.m., the New Milford Police Department responded to 650 River Road in New Milford, NJ following a 9-1-1 call placed by JUSTIN J. WILHELM from that residence. Upon arrival, responding officers located WILHELM on the front steps of the home with suspected blood on both of his hands. Officers entered the residence to conduct a welfare check and located a deceased adult male on the second floor. The victim, later identified as 24-year-old Mateo…

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella confirms the following information: The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the New Milford Police Department are investigating a homicide that occurred in New Milford, NJ this morning. On Thursday, September 25, 2025, at approximately 2:58 a.m., the New Milford Police Department responded to 650 River Road in New Milford, NJ to conduct a welfare check.  Upon arrival, responding officers located two adult men inside the home.  One of the men had been stabbed multiple times and was ultimately pronounced deceased on scene.  An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stabbing is underway.  This investigation is being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the New Milford Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Clancy.   No other information is available at this time.

For Immediate Release: September 23, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 51-year-old JOSE MENDEZ-ORTIZ of Pearl River, NY on charges of aggravated sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, 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 Elmwood Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Foligno. On Sunday, September 21, 2025, the Elmwood Park Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding the alleged sexual assault of a juvenile. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Elmwood Park Police Department revealed that JOSE MENDEZ-ORTIZ sexually assaulted a juvenile in Elmwood Park, NJ. As a result of the investigation, on Sunday, September 21, 2025, JOSE MENDEZ-ORTIZ was arrested in Elmwood Park, NJ and…

For Immediate Release: September 23, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 40-year-old JOEL GALVIS of Jersey City, NJ on weapons-related offenses in Englewood, NJ. These charges are 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 Friday, September 19, 2025, at approximately 6:27 a.m., the Englewood Police Department responded to Englewood Hospital after an individual arrived at the facility with an apparent gunshot wound. Responding officers located JOEL GALVIS who was seeking treatment for a gunshot injury to his leg. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit were also notified and responded to the hospital, initiating a joint investigation with the Englewood Police Department. The investigation revealed that JOEL GALVIS sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg…

For Immediate Release: September 9, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information regarding the investigation into a mobile home explosion that resulted in a three-alarm fire on 6th Street in Moonachie, NJ, on Monday, September 8, 2025. This joint investigation was conducted by theBergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and theMoonachie Police Department, under the direction of Chief Richard Behrens. On Monday, September 8, 2025, at approximately 4:47 p.m., the Moonachie PoliceDepartment and the Moonachie Fire Department, along with mutual aid from severalneighboring police and fire agencies, responded to reports of an explosion and fire of a mobilehome on 6th Street in Moonachie, NJ. During their initial response and fire suppression effortsof the three-alarm fire, the Moonachie Police Department and Moonachie Fire Departmentlocated an adult male victim inside of the mobile home. The victim, whose name is still beingwithheld pending…

For Immediate Release: September 9, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the apprehension of JONATHAN M. ORTIZ, of Garfield, NJ, who was previously a fugitive from justice, and an additional charge filed against 20-year-old MIKHI MADDOX ODUM of Garfield, NJ. Both men are in custody and facing several charges each in relation to a shooting that occurred in Garfield, NJ on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. The additional charge and the apprehension of the second defendant are the result of an ongoing 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. As previously reported, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at approximately 9:07 a.m., the Garfield Police Department responded to the intersection of Palisade Avenue and Somerset Street following reports of gunfire. Responding officers arrived on scene and discovered evidence…

For Immediate Release: September 9, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of 24-year-old JAMIL N. TUNCER of Wallington, NJ; 23-year-old JAKUB P. LEPIANKA of Passaic, NJ; and 27-year-old MICHAEL A. RODRIGUEZ of Passaic, NJ on charges stemming from an armed robbery that occurred in East Rutherford, NJ. The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the East Rutherford Police Department, under the direction of Chief Dennis Rivelli. On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at approximately 1:30 a.m., a uniformed officer from the East Rutherford Police Department who was on routine patrol interrupted an armed robbery in progress near the intersection of Paterson Avenue and Clifton Avenue in East Rutherford. As the officer approached the intersection, he heard a woman yelling for help and observed two masked…