For Immediate Release: December 2, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 36-year-old CECILIA MURILLO VIERA of Oakland, NJ on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and simple 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 Oakland Police Department under the direction of Chief Keith Sanzari. On Sunday, December 1, 2024, the Oakland Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding alleged child abuse. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Oakland Police Department revealed that CECILIA MURILLO VIERA physically abused a juvenile under the age of sixteen in Oakland, NJ. As a result of the investigation, CECILIA MURILLO VIERA was arrested in Oakland, NJ and charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(2); and simple assault, N.J.S.A.

For Immediate Release: December 02, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 23-year-old SEEUN JANG of Ridgefield, 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 Ridgefield Police Department under the direction of Chief Thomas J. Gallagher. On Monday, November 25, 2024, the Ridgefield Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding the alleged sexual assault of a juvenile that had occurred in the past. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ridgefield Police Department revealed that SEEUN JANG sexually assaulted the juvenile on multiple occasions when the child was under the age of sixteen in Ridgefield, NJ. As a result of the investigation, on Monday, December 2, 2024, SEEUN JANG was…

For Immediate Release: December 2, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 36-year-old JOSE M. SUMBA ASTUDILLO of Newark, NJ on charges related to a fatal motor vehicle crash. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department under the direction of Chief Joseph Rinke. On Sunday, December 1, 2024, at approximately 2:28 a.m., the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department, Lodi Police Department, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office responded to a serious single-car, motor-vehicle accident on Route 46 West in Hasbrouck Heights. Upon arrival, officers determined that a 2019 Hyundai collided with the highway divider injuring all three occupants of the vehicle. One occupant of the vehicle, 57-year-old Angel S. Uzhca Yadaicela of Elmwood Park, NJ, was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center where he was ultimately pronounced…

For Immediate Release: December 2, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 32-year-old WILMER HERNANDEZ-BARRERA of Cliffside 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 Fairview Police Department under the direction of Chief Vincent Bellucci. On Friday, October 11, 2024, the Palisades Park Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding the alleged sexual assault of a juvenile that had occurred in the past. During the investigation, it was determined that the alleged assault occurred in Fairview, NJ. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Fairview Police Department discovered that WILMER HERNANDEZ-BARRERA sexually assaulted the juvenile, on multiple occasions, when the child was under the age of sixteen, in Fairview, NJ.

For Immediate Release: November 29, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the launch of a public safety video series produced by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”). The series, entitled “Need to Know”, will provide valuable information to improve the safety of the Bergen County community. For many years, the BCPO has produced social media messages that provided tips on how to avoid being a victim of criminal activities like senior scams, porch pirates, and car thefts. These tips are now being formalized into the “Need to Know” video series, which will offer information so that community members can choose to take action or change behaviors to live more safely. “Utilizing the knowledge base of the BCPO’s subject matter experts – our assistant prosecutors and investigators – provides an invaluable resource for Bergen County,” stated Prosecutor Musella. “Sharing potentially life-saving information with our community members will promote…

For Immediate Release: November 26, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of BENJAMIN P. RITTER, 23, of Washington Township, 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 September 13, 2024, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit identified BENJAMIN P. RITTER during an ongoing Internet child pornography investigation. The investigation, which involved a court-authorized search of RITTER’s electronic device, revealed that RITTER viewed, saved, downloaded, and/or possessed 31,110 items depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent and pubescent children. As a result of the investigation, BENJAMIN P. RITTER was arrested on Monday, November 25, 2024, in Paramus, NJ and charged with second-degree possession of child pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(b)5(b)(ii). RITTER was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first…

For Immediate Release: November 25, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 42-year-old JONNATHAN DIAZ-GOMEZ of Elizabeth, NJ, on charges stemming from several residential burglaries in Bergen County, NJ. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Paramus Police Department under the direction of Chief Robert Guidetti. On Saturday, April 27, 2024, at approximately 8:35 p.m., Officers from the Paramus Police Department responded to an attempted burglary in progress on Ehret Steet in Paramus. The responding Officers observed a vehicle parked, idling and occupied by multiple suspects. An additional male suspect was crouching next to the vehicle. The suspects scattered upon the arrival of the Paramus Police Officers, and two men were taken into custody, including the driver of the vehicle, later identified as JONNATHAN DIAZ-GOMEZ. As a result of the…

For Immediate Release: November 25, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 25-year-old ANDREW SALAMONE of Moonachie, 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 Moonachie Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard Behrens. On Thursday, November 22, 2024, the Moonachie Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding the alleged sexual assault of two juveniles that had occurred in the past. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Moonachie Police Department revealed that ANDREW SALAMONE sexually assaulted the juveniles, on multiple occasions, when the children were under the age of sixteen, in Moonachie, NJ. As a result of the investigation, on Friday, November 22, 2024, ANDREW SALAMONE was…

For Immediate Release: November 25, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following additional information related to the ongoing investigation of a fatal crash that occurred in Teaneck, NJ on November 21, 2024. This continuing investigation is being 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. As previously reported, on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at approximately 6:59 p.m., the Teaneck Police Department responded to several 911 calls reporting a pedestrian lying in the roadway. Upon arrival, officers determined that the pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle, which left the scene of the collision. The pedestrian was subsequently identified as 70-year-old Bernardita Garcia of Englewood, N.J. She was transported from the scene to Holy Name Hospital where she was ultimately pronounced deceased. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit…

For Immediate Release: November 22, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 34-year-old JOSE HIGINIO RAMOS SOLIS of Oakland, NJ on charges of attempted murder, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and possession of a weapon. 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 Oakland Police Department under the direction of Chief Keith Sanzari. On Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 2:56 p.m., the Oakland Police Department responded to a stabbing at 455 Ramapo Valley Road in Oakland, NJ. Upon arrival, responding officers discovered that a 53-year-old male was stabbed, and the assailant had fled the scene. The suspect, later identified as JOSE HIGINIO RAMOS SOLIS, was subsequently apprehended a short distance from the scene by Oakland Police Officers, while the victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The…