For Immediate Release:
September 28, 2026

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 30-year-old ANTHONY M. PIZZI of Pompton Lakes, NJ (formerly employed as a Sergeant with the Garfield Police Department), on charges of aggravated assault; possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose; unlawful possession of a weapon; and criminal mischief. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer; the Fair Lawn Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Dawicki; the Garfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Delaney; the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jeffrey Werner; the Lodi Police Department, under the direction of Chief Donald Scorzetti; and the Wallington Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ireneusz “Eric” Kluska.

Between Friday, September 18, 2026, and Thursday, September 24, 2026, a series of incidents occurred in five towns across Bergen County, namely Fair Lawn, NJ; Garfield, NJ; Hasbrouck Heights, NJ; Lodi, NJ; and Wallington, NJ. In each case, paintball projectiles were fired at parked or moving vehicles, and in one instance, a person was struck by a paintball projectile as the rounds were fired by an unknown suspect.

In the initial incidents, which first occurred on Friday, September 18, 2026, and again on Saturday, September 19, 2026, vehicles belonging to two different individuals were struck by paintballs in Hasbrouck Heights. Then on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, a paintball projectile was fired into the open window of a vehicle in Fair Lawn, striking the adult female driver in the head. The victim in that circumstance was not seriously injured.

Thereafter, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, additional vehicles were struck by paintballs in both Hasbrouck Heights and Lodi. Finally, on Thursday, September 24, 2026, paintball projectiles were fired at vehicles in Garfield, Hasbrouck Heights, and Wallington. In each of the different incidents, police officers from the respective police departments initiated investigations, and a possible suspect vehicle was developed. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office was notified of the incidents and joined the investigation into this emerging pattern. Police officers and detectives from the six agencies involved in the investigation worked collaboratively to review surveillance footage, respective police reports, and victim statements. Ultimately, the investigation revealed that ANTHONY M. PIZZI was responsible for each of the paintball incidents.

Based on the results of the investigation, on Friday, September 25, 2026, ANTHONY M. PIZZI was located by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, with assistance from the Fair Lawn Police Department, Garfield Police Department, and the South Hackensack Police Department, on Route 46 in South Hackensack, NJ. PIZZI was arrested and charged with third-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1); nine counts of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d; nine counts of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5d; and nine counts of criminal mischief, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3a(2), a disorderly persons offense. PIZZI was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.

Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the Fair Lawn Police Department, the Garfield Police Department, the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department, the Lodi Police Department, and the Wallington Police Department for their partnership and assistance throughout this investigation. Moreover, Prosecutor Musella thanks the South Hackensack Police Department for its assistance with the apprehension of the defendant.