For Immediate Release: June 5, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 25-year-old ALLISON G. GUTIERREZ-TUESTA of Passaic, NJ on charges of aggravated arson, arson, and failure to report a fire. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Garfield Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard M. Uram. On Sunday, April 28, 2024, at approximately 10:35 a.m., the Garfield Police Department and Fire Department responded to a fire at 89 Passaic Street, Apartment 2, in Garfield. Following their initial response and fire suppression efforts, the Garfield Police Department and Fire Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad that the fire appeared suspicious in nature. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad and Garfield Police Department initiated a joint investigation that revealed ALLISON…

For Immediate Release: June 4, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 46-year-old STACEY A. WILMARTH of Dumont, NJ on charges of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child. 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 Dumont Police Department under the direction of Chief Brian Joyce. On Monday, May 27, 2024, the Dumont Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding an alleged incident of child abuse. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Dumont Police Department revealed that STACEY WILMARTH physically assaulted a child under the age of 13 years old who was in her care. As a result of the investigation, on Monday, June 3, 2024, STACEY WILMARTH was arrested in Paramus, NJ and charged with second-degree aggravated assault,…

For Immediate Release: June 3, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 67-year-old TERENCE J. COTTER of Delray Beach, FL on a charge of assault by auto. 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 Mahwah Police Department under the direction of Chief Timothy O’Hara. On Sunday, June 2, 2024, the Mahwah Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting a motor vehicle accident on East Crescent Avenue involving a car and a motorcycle. An investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit and the Mahwah Police Department revealed that a 2022 Volkswagen, operated by TERENCE COTTER, was traveling south on East Crescent Lane and crossed into the northbound lane and collided with a motorcycle. As a result of the collision, the operator of the motorcycle suffered…

For Immediate Release: June 3, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 34-year-old DAWID S. IWASZEK of Englewood, NJ on additional charges of criminal sexual assault by sexual contact, endangering the welfare of a child, and lewdness. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, the Englewood Police Department under the direction of Chief Thomas Greeley, and the Teaneck Police Department under the direction of Chief Andrew McGurr. As previously reported, on Thursday, May 23, 2024, the Englewood Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding an alleged incident of criminal sexual assault by sexual contact against a juvenile under the age of thirteen. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Englewood Police Department revealed that DAWID IWASZEK exposed himself and masturbated in public while in…

For Immediate Release: May 31, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced an additional charge of aggravated manslaughter against 48-year-old FRANCES CASO of Fort Lee, NJ as a result of an 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. This charge is in addition to charges brought against CASO on May 26, 2024. As previously reported, on Saturday, May 25, 2024, the Fort Lee Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting an unresponsive 12-year-old female at a private residence on Maple Street in Fort Lee, NJ. The juvenile was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center where she was later pronounced deceased. Indicators of a possible drug overdose were noted and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office was notified. During the course of the joint investigation, it was determined that FRANCES…

For Immediate Release: May 29, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of HUSEM NASRI, 24, of Elmwood Park, NJ on charges of armed robbery, weapon possession, and other related offenses. The arrest is the result of a months-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck. On Monday, February 5, 2024, officers from the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department responded to a gas station located at 404 Route 17 North on the report of an attempted armed robbery. Police discovered that a suspect attempted to rob the gas station attendant, struck him with a firearm, and fled the scene. Accordingly, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified, responded, and initiated an investigation. While law enforcement was on scene in Hasbrouck Heights, it was discovered that another attempted armed robbery occurred at a gas station located at 1201 Van…

For Immediate Release: May 25, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 34 year-old DAWID S. IWASZEK of Englewood, NJ on charges of criminal sexual assault by sexual contact, endangering the welfare of a child, and lewdness. 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 Thursday, May 23, 2024, the Englewood Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding an alleged incident of criminal sexual assault by sexual contact against a juvenile under the age of thirteen. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Englewood Police Department revealed that DAWID IWASZEK exposed himself and masturbated in public while in the presence of a juvenile under the age of thirteen. As a result of…

For Immediate Release: May 28, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 45-year-old KATHERINE PASTOR of Teaneck, NJ on charges of endangering the welfare of a child, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, 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 Teaneck Police Department under the direction of Chief Andrew McGurr. On Friday, May 24, 2024, the Teaneck Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding an alleged incident of child abuse. The alleged child abuse was reported to have occurred while a juvenile was under the care of KATHERINE PASTOR. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Teaneck Police Department revealed that, while in her care, PASTOR struck the juvenile about the face, utilizing an object, causing injuries requiring…

For Immediate Release: May 26, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 48-year-old FRANCES CASO of Fort Lee, NJ on charges of endangering the welfare of a child, possession of controlled dangerous substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The arrest was the result of an investigation in connection to the death of a 12-year-old child that was 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. As previously reported, on Saturday, May 25, 2024, the Fort Lee Police Department responded to a 911 call at approximately 3:34 p.m. reporting an unresponsive 12-year-old female at a private residence on Maple Street in Fort Lee, NJ. The juvenile was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center where she was later pronounced deceased. Indicators of a possible drug overdose were noted and…

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information: This evening, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Fort Lee Police Department are conducting a death investigation at a private residence on Maple Street.  First responders who were answering a 911 call at approximately 3:34 p.m. located and transported an unresponsive 12-year-old child to an area hospital.  The child was pronounced deceased.   This ongoing investigation is being 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. No other information is available tonight while the investigation is underway.  More details will be released when possible.