For Immediate Release: February 16, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of MELVIN THOMAS (DOB: 04/05/1991; single; unemployed) of Paramus, NJ, on charges of murder, desecration of human remains, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a weapon, and hindering. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Acting Chief Matthew Finck and the Paramus Police Department under the direction of Chief Robert M. Guidetti. On Friday, February 16, 2024, at approximately 5:40 p.m., the Paramus Police Department responded to 693 Bruce Drive, Paramus, NJ on the report of a possible homicide. Upon arrival, responding officers located a 61-year-old male, identified as Manuel V. Thomas, in the basement of the residence. Mr. Thomas had sustained multiple stab wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Shortly thereafter, MELVIN THOMAS was identified as the…

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information: The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Paramus Police Department are investigating a homicide that occurred at 693 Bruce Drive in Paramus, NJ. At approximately 5:40 p.m. on Friday, February 16, 2024, the Paramus Police Department responded to 693 Bruce Drive and found the victim, a 61-year-old male, deceased. An investigation is being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Acting Chief Matthew Finck and the Paramus Police Department under the direction of Chief Robert M. Guidetti. No other information is available at this time.

For Immediate Release: February 16, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the conviction of RANDY GALLMAN of Jersey City, NJ in connection with the attack of a Bergen County woman in broad daylight on December 29, 2020. On February 8, 2024, after a two-week trial before the Honorable James X. Sattely, P.J.Cr., in Bergen County Superior Court, RANDY GALLMAN was convicted of attempted kidnapping, attempted sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, simple assault, and harassment. Sentencing is scheduled for May 3, 2024. On the afternoon of December 29, 2020, as RANDY GALLMAN was working as a flower delivery driver, he harassed a passerby in Fort Lee. Twenty minutes later, he spotted the victim again in Leonia. There, GALLMAN grabbed the victim, dragged her into an alleyway, and attempted to sexually assault her. The victim fought with GALLMAN before GALLMAN ran away. Within 24 hours, GALLMAN was apprehended by the Bergen…

For Immediate Release: February 13, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of KEVIN ULYSSES (DOB: 04/03/2004; unemployed) of 658 East 227th Street in the Bronx, New York; RAHQUAN BROOKS (DOB: 11/08/2003; unemployed; currently incarcerated in the State of New York); and two JUVENILES on charges related to multiple armed robberies in Bergen County, NJ. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Acting Chief Matthew Finck, the Ridgefield Park Police Department under the direction of Chief Joseph Rella, and the Palisades Park Police Department under the direction of Chief Anthony Espino. On Sunday, July 24, 2022, at approximately 4:21 a.m., multiple individuals entered a gas station convenience store located at 150 Route 46 East in Ridgefield Park and robbed the business with what appeared to be a black colored firearm. Several actors wearing masks arrived in…

For Immediate Release: February 12, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of MARY ANNE HAMPL (DOB: 12/06/1961; single; unemployed) of Rutherford, NJ on arson-related charges. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit under the direction of Acting Chief Matthew Finck, and the Rutherford Police Department under the direction of Chief John Russo. On February 8, 2024, at approximately 7:12 p.m., the Rutherford Police Department responded to a fire at 126 Hastings Avenue, Apt A, in Rutherford, NJ. Upon entering the residence, first responders observed a fire and smoke condition in the kitchen, originating from items that were placed on the stove. The fire was extinguished by the Rutherford Fire Department. Further investigation revealed that MARY ANNE HAMPL had intentionally set the fire. As a result of the investigation, MARY ANNE HAMPL was charged with second- degree…

For Immediate Release: February 9, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces that the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit and the Cliffside Park Police Department investigated a bomb threat that was reported at 12:41 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024, in the 500 block of Anderson Avenue in Cliffside Park. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad responded and conducted a precautionary sweep. The area sweep and search by the BCSO’s Bomb Squad determined there were no threats to public safety. Residents were allowed to return to the area at approximately 5:30 p.m. The subsequent investigation was conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Acting Chief Matthew Finck, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office under the direction of Sheriff Anthony Cureton, and the Cliffside Park Police Department under the direction of Chief Marc Marano. Prosecutor Musella would like to thank the Cliffside Park Police…

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information: The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit and the Cliffside Park Police Department are investigating a bomb threat that was reported at 12:41 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024, in the 500 block of Anderson Avenue in Cliffside Park. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad is on scene assisting with the precautionary sweep. The BCPO and Cliffside Park Police Department request that residents avoid the area as the investigation continues. The investigation is being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Acting Chief Matt Finck and the Cliffside Park Police Department under the direction of Chief Marc Marano. No other information is available at this time.

For Immediate Release: February 9, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of ROB WOLFSON (DOB: 12/03/1953; divorced; medical photographer) of 426 Bogert Avenue, Ridgewood, 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 Acting Chief Matthew Finck. On Thursday, February 8, 2024, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at the residence of ROB WOLFSON during the course of a months-long Internet child pornography investigation. The investigation revealed that WOLFSON 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, ROB WOLFSON was arrested on Thursday, February 8, 2024 in Paramus, NJ and charged with second-degree possession of child pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)(ii). WOLFSON was remanded…

For Immediate Release: February 6, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the upgraded charges of a Bergen County Juvenile for vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death. The arrest is the result of a joint investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Acting Chief Matthew Finck and the Teaneck Police Department under the direction of Chief Andrew McGurr. As previously reported, on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at approximately 7:55 a.m., the Teaneck Police Department received a 911 call reporting a two-car motor vehicle accident that occurred at the intersection of Palmer Ave and Sherman Ave in Teaneck, NJ. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit was notified. The initial investigation revealed that a 2015 Ford Explorer struck a 2022 Nissan Rogue resulting in the vehicles leaving the roadway. The Juvenile operator of the Ford Explorer fled…

For Immediate Release: February 5, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced that the recent report of a possible child abduction in the Township of Washington, NJ on Saturday, February 3, 2024, was determined not to be a criminal matter based on the results of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Acting Chief Matthew Finck and the Township of Washington Police Department under the direction of Chief John Calamari. On Saturday, February 3, 2024, at approximately 4:42 p.m., the Township of Washington Police Department responded to a report of an unusual incident that appeared suspicious and could possibly have been a child abduction. Specifically, an area resident reported to police that they observed a vehicle pull over and its driver escort a passenger from the vehicle into the trunk of that car. The vehicle drove away, leaving the passenger in the trunk, which…