For Immediate Release: October 27, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of 30-year-old JUAN B. RODRIGUEZ-SANTOS and 29-year-old LISA M. PALACIO, both of Moonachie, NJ, on charges stemming from a falsely reported home invasion and shooting. 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 Moonachie Police Department, under the direction of Chief Richard Behrens. On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at approximately 6:42 a.m., law enforcement received a 9-1-1 call from a male and female requesting police. The couple was later identified as JUAN B. RODRIGUEZ-SANTOS and LISA M. PALACIO, who were calling from their residence in Moonachie, NJ. Responding officers from the Moonachie Police Department located both LISA M. PALACIO and JUAN B. RODRIGUEZ-SANTOS at their residence and found RODRIGUEZ-SANTOS suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg. RODRIGUEZ-SANTOS was transported…

For Immediate Release: October 24, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the sentencing term handed down in Bergen County Superior Court on Monday, October 20, 2025, against 32-year-old JUHAAN HAMMOND of Garfield, NJ in connection with charges filed during a 2023 strict liability drug overdose death investigation. On Sunday, September 17, 2023, the Garfield Police Department responded to the drug overdose of two victims. Arriving officers initiated life-saving measures, including the administration of Naloxone. The victims were subsequently transported to an area hospital for treatment whereupon one of the victims, a 30-year-old Garfield man, was pronounced deceased. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force and the Garfield Police Department, with assistance from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, initiated an investigation into the overdose death and the related drug activity. The investigation revealed that JUHAAN HAMMOND distributed a fatal dose of narcotics to the victim, causing his…

For Immediate Release: October 24, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 19-year-old JONATHAN D. VELOZ of Hackensack, NJ, on the charge of possession of child sexual abuse material. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck. On Friday, October 24, 2025, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at the residence of JONATHAN D. VELOZ during the course of an Internet child sexual abuse material investigation. The investigation revealed that VELOZ used the Internet to view, download, and possess items depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent and pubescent children. As a result of the investigation, JONATHAN D. VELOZ was arrested on Friday, October 24, 2025, and charged with third-degree possession of child pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(b)5(b)(iii). VELOZ was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a…

For Immediate Release: October 24, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 46-year-old JORGE E. MEJIA of Hackensack, 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; the Garfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Delaney; and the Hackensack Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Antista. On Thursday, October 23, 2025, the Garfield Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding the alleged sexual assault of a juvenile that had occurred earlier that same day. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Garfield Police Department, and the Hackensack Police Department revealed that JORGE E. MEJIA sexually assaulted and endangered a juvenile in Garfield, NJ and in Hackensack, NJ on multiple occasions beginning…

For Immediate Release: October 22, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 34-year-old ELIJAH E. HOLDER of Hackensack, NJ on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault. 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 Hackensack Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Antista. On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding the alleged assault of a juvenile. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hackensack Police Department revealed that ELIJAH E. HOLDER physically assaulted the juvenile by repeatedly striking the victim in Hackensack. As a result of the investigation, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, ELIJAH E. HOLDER was arrested in Bergenfield, NJ and charged with second-degree…

For Immediate Release: October 21, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information regarding an investigation into the two-alarm fire that occurred on Ellen Court in Hillsdale, NJ, on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. This joint investigation was conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Hillsdale Police Department, under the direction of Chief Travis Woods. On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, beginning at approximately 3:30 a.m., the Hillsdale Police Department and Hillsdale Fire Department, along with subsequent mutual aid from surrounding police and fire agencies, responded to a two-alarm fire at a private residence on Ellen Court. Upon arrival, first responders ensured the residence was evacuated. During fire suppression, multiple firefighters from the Hillsdale Fire Department, along with some firefighters from assisting agencies, suffered non-life-threatening burns and other minor injuries. They were transported to area hospitals for evaluation and treatment. No…

For Immediate Release: October 20, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced today that on Monday, November 10, 2025, a team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (“NJSACOP”) will examine all aspects of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. “Verification by the team that the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office meets the Commission’s ‘best practice’ standards is part of a voluntary process to achieve accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” said Prosecutor Musella. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office must comply with NJSACOP Law Enforcement Accreditation Program standards in order to achieve accredited status. Prosecutor Mark Musella stated, “Accreditation results in greater accountability within the agency, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, increased community advocacy, and more confidence in the agency’s ability to operate efficiently and respond to community needs.” As…

For Immediate Release: October 17, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 26-year-old STEVEN K. GROSSMAN of Tenafly, NJ, on the charge of possession of child sexual abuse material. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck. On Friday, October 17, 2025, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at the residence of STEVEN K. GROSSMAN during the course of an Internet child sexual abuse material investigation. The investigation revealed that GROSSMAN used the Internet to view, download, and possess more than 100 digital files depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent and pubescent children. As a result of the investigation, STEVEN K. GROSSMAN was arrested on Friday, October 17, 2025, and charged with third-degree possession of child pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(b)5(b)(iii). GROSSMAN was remanded to the Bergen…

For Immediate Release: October 9, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the conviction of FREDDY PINA of Fort Lee, NJ in connection with a stabbing committed on August 5, 2023. After a two-week trial that began on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, before the Honorable Christopher R. Kazlau, J.S.C. in Bergen County Superior Court, the defendant was found guilty. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday, December 12, 2025. On Saturday, August 5, 2023, in the early morning hours, FREDDY PINA approached the victim outside PINA’S home and stabbed him with a seven-inch knife, eviscerating him. One of the victim’s kidneys had to be partially removed as a result. The knife was recovered in FREDDY PINA’S home, and PINA turned himself in to police two hours after the attack. On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, a jury convicted FREDDY PINA of second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree aggravated assault, third-degree possession of a weapon with…

For Immediate Release: October 6, 2025 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information regarding an investigation into the four-alarm fire that occurred at 568 Palisade Avenue in Garfield, NJ on Sunday, October 5, 2025. This joint investigation was 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 Sunday, October 5, 2025, at 12:16 p.m., the Garfield Police Department and Garfield Fire Department, along with mutual aid from surrounding agencies, responded to a four-alarm fire which initially started within a shed located behind 568 Palisade Avenue. The fire then extended to the residence, with further extension to multiple surrounding residential structures. During their initial response and fire suppression efforts, the Garfield Police Department and Fire Department ensured all affected structures were evacuated. A firefighter from the Hackensack Fire Department was transported…