For Immediate Release: November 17, 2022 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced that JOSHUA SALAZAR-MORENO (DOB: 3/07/2001; single; HVAC technician) of 949 E. 28th Street, Paterson, NJ was charged with attempted theft and uttering a forged document. This is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Carlstadt Police Department under the direction of Acting Chief Thomas Cox. On Wednesday, October 5, 2022, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit received information from the Carlstadt Police Department regarding multiple financial and banking documents that were suspected to be fraudulent. The investigation revealed that on Monday, August 29, 2022, utilizing a third-party’s bank account, JOSHUA SALAZAR-MORENO deposited an altered/fictitious U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $161,637.45 via an automated teller machine (ATM) at a financial institution in Bergen County. This fraudulent activity was detected…

For Immediate Release: November 17, 2022 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of HUGO MORALES (DOB: 8/27/1982; married; nurse) of 2422 88th Street, East Elmhurst, NY on drug offenses. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force revealed that HUGO MORALES distributed cocaine to an undercover detective on multiple occasions since September 2022. On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, members of the Narcotic Task Force, Bergen County Regional SWAT Team and Paramus Police Department arrested HUGO MORALES as he attempted to distribute cocaine from his vehicle in Paramus, NJ. HUGO MORALES was charged with second-degree distribution of cocaine, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); and four counts of third-degree distribution of cocaine, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3). He was released pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack,…

For Immediate Release: November 17, 2022 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of DIOR ALSTON (DOB: 08/28/2001; single; laborer) of 37 Agar Place, South Hackensack, NJ and MALIK ABEL (DOB: 03/11/2001; single; electrician) of 356 Maywood Avenue, Maywood, NJ on charges of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a handgun and stalking; and RAYSHAWN POWEL-MYHAND (DOB: 10/01/2003; single; cashier) of 95 Railroad Avenue, Apt. B4, Hackensack, NJ on charges of hindering apprehension. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Hackensack Police Department under the direction of Officer-in-Charge Captain Michael Antista. At approximately 5:00 p.m., on Saturday, November 12, 2022, the Hackensack Police Department responded to a report of shots fired in the area of Essex Street and Lehigh Street…

Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information: The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Fair Lawn Police Department are investigating an armed home invasion that occurred on 28th Street in Fair Lawn, NJ on Thursday, November 17, 2022.  Just after 9:00 a.m., the Fair Lawn Police Department responded to a report of a home invasion. Three individuals were in the home, and one sustained minor injuries. An investigation is being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Fair Lawn Police Department under the direction of Chief Glen Cauwels. No additional information is available at this time.

Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information: The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Hackensack Police Department are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in the area of Essex Street & Lehigh Street in Hackensack, NJ on Saturday, November 12, 2022, around 5:00 p.m.  Responding Hackensack Police Officers found one male victim who sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.  A second victim, 28-year-old Vidal R. Nieves, was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased from a gunshot wound. An investigation is being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Hackensack Police Department under the direction of Officer-in-Charge Captain Michael Antista.

Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information: The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Hackensack Police Department are investigating a shooting that occurred in the area of Essex Street & Lehigh Street in Hackensack, NJ on Saturday, November 12, 2022.  At approximately 5:00 p.m., the Hackensack Police Department responded to a report of shots fired at that location with two victims shot. Responding officers found two male victims, each with a gunshot wound.  One of the victims was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. A second victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries. An investigation is being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Hackensack Police Department under the direction of Officer-in-Charge Captain Michael Antista. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available, but the shooting appears to be an isolated incident.

For Immediate Release: November 7, 2022 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced today that on Monday, November 14, 2022, 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. As part of this final on-site assessment, employees and members of the general public are invited to provide comments to the assessment team. They may do so by telephone or email. The public may call 201-226-5558 on Monday, November 14, 2022, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Email comments can be sent to Accreditation@bcpo.net. Telephone comments are limited…

For Immediate Release: October 28, 2022 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of DOMINICK NICOLOSI JR. (DOB: 2/26/1992; single; café worker) of 210 Orchard Street, Elmwood Park, NJ on drug offenses and resisting arrest by eluding. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force revealed that DOMINICK NICOLOSI JR. distributed cocaine to an undercover detective on multiple occasions in September and October 2022. On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, members of the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team and Narcotic Task Force attempted to arrest NICOLOSI JR. as he attempted to distribute 200 grams of cocaine from his vehicle in Elmwood Park, NJ. In order to evade arrest, NICOLOSI JR. fled in his vehicle by driving down a sidewalk. He was arrested the following day.

For Immediate Release: October 24, 2022 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces that the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”) annual SNAP conference will be held on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at the Venetian in Garfield, NJ. The theme for this year’s conference, “Tools for Schools to Keep our Students Safe: An Update on School Safety Strategies and Drug Trends” will focus on school safety and drug prevention strategies. This program is presented to educators, law enforcement officers, and social service professionals who interact with Bergen County youth. Conference topics will include:• School Shooters: Prevention, Planning, and Practice• Handling Our Students with Care: Prevention as the Best Intervention• Swatting: An Inside Look at Hoax Threat Calls• A Look at Marijuana and Youth Post-Decriminalization• Marijuana and the Developing Brain: A Biopsychosocial Approach• Current Youth Drug Trends• Presentation of the annual School Resource Officer Excellence Award This annual conference was first held in…