Sex Offender Apprehended through DNA Database

On August 16, 2000 a 21-year-old female had just returned from visiting her mother in a neighboring town, when she exited a bus in the area of Lexington Avenue and Center Street.  The woman had begun walking toward her nearby residence.  Shortly thereafter, an unknown male approached her from behind and forcibly dragged her to a secluded area. He then sexually assaulted the woman.  The assailant ultimately fled the scene on foot; leaving the victim lying helplessly on the ground.

Clifton detectives immediately began to investigate the allegations and collected evidence in conjunction with forensic specialists. The evidence was transferred to the New Jersey State Police laboratory for examination, but yielded no immediate results.  During the next several years, detectives monitored the case, however the substantial amount of time that had passed from the date of the incident made the prospect of an arrest seem unlikely.

However, in February of 2012, detectives unexpectedly received notification that a DNA match was located from evidence confiscated during the investigation; indicating the possible involvement of a specific individual. 

This break in the case was facilitated through the use of the New Jersey State Police Combined DNA Index System, or "CODIS".  New Jersey law requires that certain persons, including sex offenders, submit a DNA sample upon arrest. 

With this new information, Detective Michael McLaughlin was assigned to the case and began to revisit the investigation in its entirety. After a lengthy search, Detective McLaughlin was able to locate the victim, who had relocated to another state. After reviewing the case and conferring with the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office’ Special Victims Unit, Detective McLaughlin then began to search for the individual who was identified via the DNA "hit", specifically Derrick Chestnut (46 years old) of Paterson, NJ.

On Wednesday evening, May 23, 2012, Detective McLaughlin along with members of the Clifton Police Detective Bureau, apprehended the Mr. Chestnut in the City of Paterson on charges of Aggravated Sexual Assault, Kidnapping, and Criminal Restraint; all stemming from the incident in August of 2000. The suspect was subsequently conveyed to the Clifton Police Department where he was processed and bail was set by the Honorable Raymond A. Reddin at one million dollars.

The investigation is ongoing and additional information will be available as it progresses.

MV Pursuit/Arrests

Earlier today, at approximately 4:30 A.M., Officer Nigel Gough and Officer Mohammad Droubi were tending to a situation when they observed two suspicious vehicles (Honda Civics) traveling on Clifton Avenue in the vicinity of Second Street.

Officer Droubi left the scene to investigate and followed the vehicles in question to the 7-11 parking lot (849 Clifton Avenue). At that time, the drivers of both vehicles apparently observed the officer and responded by exiting the parking lot at a high rate of speed. In response, Officer Droubi attempted to stop the vehicles, however both drivers refused to pull over. A vehicle pursuit ensued and continued on Van Houten Avenue past City Hall and eventually onto Route 19 North, where a Passaic County Sheriff's Officer joined in the pursuit. The suspect vehicles continued to accelerate on Route 19 to speeds in excess of 90 m.ph., Due the heavy rain conditions at that time, the officers had no choice but to reduce their speeds out of concern for the safety of innocent motorists. In turn, this caused a large gap between the police and suspect vehicles. As the officers came upon  the end of Route 19 North in the City of Paterson, they found that both vehicles had crashed near the bottom of the ramp. The officers immediately observed both suspects fleeing on foot toward Grand Street. A foot pursut ensued and the suspects were able to escape into the Grand Street area.

In response, a perimeter was established by other responding Clifiton and Sheriff's Department units and Sheriff's K-9 was subsequently utilized in an attempt to locate where the suspects were hiding. After a lengthy and thorough search of the area, both suspects were located by K-9 "Axel" in the rear of a used car parking lot off Grand Street. They were taken into custody and conveyed to Clifton Police Headquarters. Both vehicles were determined to be stolen from the City of Paterson.

The juveniles, both residents of Paterson, were subsequently charged with Eluding, Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of a Weapon (knife), and a multitude of motor vehicle violations. The juveniles were processed and remanded to the Essex County Detention Center in Newark, NJ.