UPDATE: FATAL HIT AND RUN

In regard to the fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred on March 17, 2012 at the intersection of Piaget Avenue and Seventh Street which killed two pedestrians, new information has developed contradicting the recently reported suspect vehicle as being a silver or gray BMW.  Investigators are now reporting that the suspect vehicle is a 2002-2005 Cadillac Escalade; black in color, with a silver or gray colored front grill. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Clifton Police Traffic Division (Patrolman Willaim Bais or Patrolman Brian Fopma)  @973-470-5905, Detective Tim McConnel of the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office @ 973-881-4800, or the Clifton Police Department Communications Center (24 hours a day) @ 973-470-5911. Callers can remain anonymous.

Carjacking (Myrtle Avenue) 03/26/2012

Early Monday morning, at approximately 6:40 A.M., a female resident was carjacked on Myrtle Avenue in the City of Clifton The victim was seated inside her BMW, which was parked in her driveway, when she observed a black colored Audi drive slowly past her residence. Shortly thereafter, the victim was approached by an African American male in possession of a shotgun or rifle. The suspect pointed the weapon at the victim and ordered her to exit the vehicle and lay on the ground. The victim complied, and upon doing so, noticed a second suspect standing near the rear of the vehicle, as well as the aforementioned black colored Audi idling in the street with at least one additional suspect inside. Two of the suspects subsequently entered the victim's vehicle and fled the scene with the black Audi in tow.

Immediately after being contacted via 911 by the victim, Clifton Police Dispatchers notified surrounding jurisdictions of what had transpired; placing an emphasis on Belleville and Newark. Within minutes, officers from the Belleville Police Department spotted both vehicles traveling southbound on Route 21. After both vehicles refused to stop, a car chase ensued and continued into the City of Newark where the black Audi eventually crashed into another vehicle. The two occupants of the Audi were subsequently apprehended by the Belleville officers, however, the occupants of the stolen BMW, managed to escape with the vehicle. It was later determined that the Audi had been stolen in Jersey City sometime last night.

The suspects in custody were identified as Malik Conover (28) of Newark and Kendraal Harrison (27) of Newark.  At this time, two suspects remain at large and they are described as being African American males in their twenties. Clifton detectives are continuing to work on the case and are asking anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the Detective Division @ 973-470-5908. 

Carjacking at Clifton Commons

Sunday night, at approximately 5:50 P.M., a carjacking occurred in the Clifton Commons. At the time of the incident, the victim, along with his two year old daughter, were seated in a vehicle in the Barnes and Noble parking lot area, when a male party wearing a nylon facial covering, approached and tapped on the driver's side window with a handgun. The victim, realizing that he was being carjacked, pleaded with the suspect to allow him to remove his daughter from the back seat. Meeting no resistance, the victim exited the vehicle and entered the back seat; at which time he noticed a second masked suspect standing near the rear of the vehicle. While the victim was attempting to unbelt his daughter, both suspects proceeded to enter the vehicle. Noticing that the victim was struggling to remove the belt, one of the suspects pressed a handgun up against the victim's head.  Ultimately, the victim was able to safely remove his daughter from the vehicle and immediately after doing so, the suspects fled the scene in the victim's vehicle (toward Route 3 East).

The suspects were described as being African American males in their late teens or early twenties. Both suspects wore dark colored hooded sweathshirts and dark colored ski masks. The vehicle in question, a 2010 Land Rover, was immediately entered into the national database as stolen and the investigation is on-going. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Clifton Police Detective Division @973-470-5908.

FATAL MV ACCIDENT

Early Sunday morning, at approximately 4:00 A.M., two pedestrians were struck by a vehicle in the eastbound lanes of Piaget Avenue at the intersection of 7th Street. The vehicle involved in the incident failed to stop after striking the pedestrians and continued traveling eastbound on Piaget Avenue. The pedestrians, later identified as Jose Fernandez-Minaya (35) of Brooklyn, NY and Jhasleidy Benjumeu-Bastidas (28) of Passaic, NJ, were pronounced dead shortly after their arrival at St.Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson.

The investigation was taken over by the Clifton Police Department Traffic Division and the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office (Major Crimes Unit). During the initial stages of the investigation, there was no information available regarding the hit and run vehicle. However, earlier today, investigators came upon evidence suggesting that the fleeing vehicle was a 2006, or newer model, BMW, silver or grey in color.

Invesigators are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Clifton Police Traffic Division @973-470-5904 or the Clifton Police Communications Center (24 hours) @973-470-5911. Callers can remain anonymous.

ARRESTS IN ROBBERY OF JUVENILES CASES

Late Wednesday night, three individuals were arrested for the string of armed robberies that took place in the Main Memorial Park area beginning in early December. The arrests came subsequent to a seventh robbery that occurred in Nash Park on Tuesday evening, during which time a lone juvenile was approached by two male suspects claiming to be in possession of a handgun and demanding that the victim turn over his I-Phone. The suspects made off with the phone and fled the scene toward Paterson.

Throughout the next day, certain evidence discovered during the investigation, led to a potential group of suspects. Surveillances were immediately set in place throughout different locations within the City of Paterson. At approximately 9:00 P.M., one of the suspects was apprehended at his Paterson residence and during the next two hours, the remaining two suspects were tracked down and arrested at separate Paterson locations. During the arrests, the I-Phone stolen during the most recent robbery was recovered.

The juvenile suspects (16 and 17 years of age) were subsequently interrogated at police headquarters and during these proceedings, detectives were able to link them to the seven (7) street robberies in question. The suspects were charged with numerous counts of first degree Armed Robbery and second degree Robbery. The suspects were later transported to the Essex County Juvenile Shelter in Newark were they will remain until a judge authorizes their release.

MV STOP/GUN ARREST

On Saturday night, at approximately 11:45 P.M., Detectives Farrell and Kavakich of the Clifton Police Tactical Narcotics Team, conducted a motor vehicle stop on a suspicious vehicle that they observed traveling through the Botany Village section of Clifton. The vehicle was occupied by two male parties, both of whom were determined to be known "Bloods" gang members. While the detectives were in the process of verifying their identities, the passenger, later identified as Michael Vega (32) of Passaic, was observed repeatedly reaching into his jacket pocket . In response, Detective Kavakich removed Vega from the vehicle, conducted a frisk of his person, and located a loaded 9mm "Taurus" handgun inside Vega's jacket pocket. Vega was placed under arrest and conveyed to police headquarters where he was charged with "Unlawful Possession of a Firearm" and other weapons and ammunition related offenses. Vega, a convicted felon, was additionally charged with a statute prohibiting people that have been convicted of a crime from possessing weapons. His bail was set at $200,000.

HOME INVASION

On March 8, 2012. at approximately 12:30 A.M., three masked men attempted to force their way into a Burgh Avenue apartment. The incident occurred after the resident noticed suspicious activity in his rear yard and went to investigate. As he was exiting from the stairwell, he was chased back upstairs by three unknown individuals, at which time he immediately retreated into his apartment and shut the door behind him. The suspects reportedly attempted to physically force the door open and when those attempts failed, one of the suspects began to repeatedly "stab" at the door with a knife. The resident called "911" and the suspects eventually fled without having gained entry into the apartment.

The suspects fled the scene through neighborhood yards and were described by a witness as being African American. There are no further details available at this time and the possibility that the incident may be related to a personal matter is being investigated. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Clifton Police Detective Bureau @ 973-470-5908.

STREET ROBBERY

On March 8, 2012, at approximately 1:00 AM, a 26 year old Clifton man was assaulted and robbed as he was walking on Harding Avenue. The victim was accosted by three men, who proceeded to physically assault him, until he fell to the ground. The suspects then  rifled through the victim's pockets before fleeing the scene on foot toward Fifth Street. A witness observed the suspects enter a green colored, four door, sports car and subsequently flee toward Clifton Avenue. Two of the suspects were described as being African American, while the third was believed to be Hispanic. All suspects were wearing dark colored, hooded sweatshirts.

The victim sustained significant injury to his facial area and required substantial medical intervention. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Clifton Police Detective Bureau @973-470-5908.