GUN ARRESTS

Early yesterday morning, at approximately 3:30 A.M., officers responded to the area of Kuller Road on the report of gunshots being fired from a vehicle. Patrolman Danny Reyes was the first officer to arrive at the location and he observed a vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway. As Patrolman Reyes approached in his patrol car the vehicle began to flee on Kuller Road toward Paterson. As back-up officers arrived, Patrolman Reyes initiated a "high risk" motor vehicle stop on the suspicious vehicle. At that time, officers met with the three vehicle occupants and conducted an investigation into whether these individuals were responsible for the reported gun shots.

As the investigation progressed, officers located an empty .22 caliber (handgun) magazine in possession of one of the vehicle's occupants. This discovery led to the subsequent location of a .22 caliber handgun within the vehicle's interior, as well as one live round of ammunition in the back seat of the vehicle. Officers also located a "spent shell casing" (a round of ammunition that has already been fired) on the ground near the site of the motor vehicle stop.

Based on these findings, all three of the vehicle occupants were arrested. Their identities are as follows:

1) Danny Cano (27) of Paterson
2) Fransisco Sostre (22) of Paterson
3) Eric Ramirez (28) of Hawthorne

Each of these individuals were charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm, Ramirez was additionally charged with a statute relating to convicted felons in possession of a weapon. Cano was additionally charged with drug related offenses stemming from evidence recovered during the motor vehicle stop. It was confirmed that no one was injured during the discharge of the firearm and the incident remains under investigation.

The Clifton Police Deparment would like to thank both the Clifton Fire Department and the Passaic County Sheriff's Department "Crime Scene Unit" for their assistance.

ROBBERY ARRESTS

Early Sunday morning, at approximately 2:30 AM, a 28 year old Clfton resident was assaulted and robbed in the parking lot of  "Pub 46" (1081 Route 46 East). The victim was accosted by five individuals after a dispute began near the front entrance of the building and culminated in the victim being punched, kicked, and "stomped on" by the multiple suspects. The suspects removed the victim's wallet from his possession during the incident and subequently fled the scene in a Toyota Camry. Upon police arrival, the victim was disoriented due to his injuries, and as a result, was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital by Clifton Fire Department personnel for medical treatment.

Shortly afterward, Officer Anthony Diaz located the suspect vehicle on Van Houten Avenue and conducted a motor vehicle stop on same. Officer Diaz and back-up officers subsequently confirmed the involvment of the vehicle's occupants in the assault, and as a result, arrested all five individuals. 

The identities of the arrested individuals are as follows:

1) Cesar Perdomo (25) of Passaic

3) Christopher Laluz (22) of Passaic
4) Wilkins Perdomo (23) of Passaic
5) Luis Romero (27) of Clifton

All suspects were charged with Aggravated Assault, Robbery, and drug related offenses stemming from evidence recovered during the motor vehicle stop.

STREET ROBBERIES OF JUVENILES

Two additional street robberies of teenagers occurred during this past week. The first incident occurred just prior to midnight on February 22, 2012 and involved two victims being approached by two suspects while the victiims were skateboarding in the parking lot of School #17. The suspects initally asked the victims if they had any drugs on their person, to which the victims responded, "No". In response, both suspects punched the victims about the face numerous times and subsequently searched their pockets for valuables. When they were unable to find any possessions, the suspects fled the scene on foot southbound (toward Passaic) on Lexington Avenue. As a result of the attack, both victims sustained injuries to the facial area.

The first suspect was described as being an African American male, approximately 16-17 years of age, approximately 6' in height, and was wearing a blue sweatshirt. The second suspect was also described as being an African American male, approximately 14-17 years of age, and reportedly shorter in height than the first suspect.

Although the time frame and location of this particular incident does not coincide with the previously reported robberies near Christopher Columbus Middle School, the descriptions of the suspects is somewhat similar. Detectives are working on a possible link between these robberies and additional information will be made available as the investigation progresses.

The second robbery took place on February 25, 2012, at approximately 8:30 P.M. as a fifteen year old Clifton resident was walking by himself on East Fourth Street near Thompson Street. The victim was apporached from behind by at least three suspects and punched in the back of the head several times; ultimately causing the victim to fall to the ground. At that time, the suspects began to kick the victim about the body while demanding that he hand over all of his money. The victim retrieved a small amount of cash from his pocket and subequently turned over same to the suspects, who then fled the scene on foot toward Lakeview Avenue. The victim sustained substantial injuries to his facial area and was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital by Clifton Fire Department personnel.

The suspects were described as being Hispanic males, approximately 20 to 30 years of age, and were wearing dark colored clothing. Based upon the suspect description, this incident does not appear to be related to the previous robberies, however, the possibilities are still being considered.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is urged to contact the Clifton Police Juvenile Bureau @ 973-470-5882.

ARMED ROBBERY

On Saturday night, the "Shell" gas station located on Route 3 Westbound experienced an armed robbery. Shortly before 9:00 PM, a male party entered the main building of the gas station and confronted the attendant, who was working alone. The suspect subsequently produced a handgun and then physically escorted the attendant outside to the "booth" where he demanded that the attendant hand over cash. The attendant complied and the suspect subsequently fled the scene on foot in an unknown direction. The actor was described as being an African American male in his twenties.

At this time, there are no further details available. Anyone with information regarding this incident in urged to contact the Clifton Police Department Detective Bureau @ 973-470-5908

MV Stop Leads to Suspect in Passaic Murders

Early Sunday morning, at approximately 1240 AM, Captain Mark Centurione and Sergeant John Stianche were patrolling the area of the "Promenade Shops" (Rt 3 West) and noticed a suspicious vehicle traveling through the parking lot of "Stew Leonard's Liquors", located just off of Allwood Road. Based on the fact that the business was closed during that time, the officers decided to stop the vehicle and inquire as to the purpose for vehicle's presence on the property. Prior to stopping the vehicle, the officers noticed that the four occupants were moving around the inside of the vehicle considerably while continuing to keep visual contact on the patrol unit. The officers stopped the vehicle at the intersection of Main and Delawanna Avenues and ultimately detected evidence of drugs inside the interior of same. At that time, Patrolman Nicholas Hriczov and Patrolman Adamo arrived on scene to provide further back -up. During the course of the investigation, Patrolman Hriczov observed what appeared to be the handle of a gun protruding from underneath the driver's seat. The item was subsequently retrieved and determined to be a loaded handgun (revolver).

While continuing with the investigation, the officers were notified that the Passaic Police Department was currently searching for the vehicle in question in regard to multiple shootings that took place earlier in the night. Shortly thereafter, the occupants of the vehicle were turned over to the custody of the Passaic Police Department. .

It was later learned that three individuals were shot during the Passaic incident and two of the victims died as a result of their injuries. After an investigation conducted by the Passaic Police Department and Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, the front seat passenger of the vehicle stopped by the Clifton officers, specifically Edwin Jimenez-Suriel (20) of Passaic, was charged in the murders. Drug related charges were additionally filed against Jimenez-Suriel by the Clifton Police Department.

Arrest for Firearms Possession

Patrolman Nicholas Hriczov and Patrolman Alexander Zamora were patrolling the area of Ackerman Avenue last night (1:50 A.M.) when they observed an occupied, suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the Pathmark. Both officers approached in an unmarked police vehicle and began interviewing the three vehicle occupants. While conducting interviews of the parties in question, the officers located what appeared to be the handle of a gun protruding from the console area of the vehicle's interior. Officer Zamora immeidiately retrieved the item and confirmed that it was in fact a loaded firearm; specifically a  "Hi-Point C9" semi-automatic pistol.  In addition to the handgun, the officers also located numerous rounds of ammunition. At this time, the three occupants were placed under arrest and conveyed to police headquarters.Their identities are as follows:

1) Deon Davis (21) of Paterson, NJ

2) Towan Lee (31) of Paterson, NJ

3) James Nunn Jr. (21) of Paterson, NJ

The individuals were charged with numerous weapons related crimes and are currently awaiting bail, and subsequent transport to the Passaic County Jail.

Drug Arrests

In response to complaints regarding drug usage and possible drug sales near the entrance to the Clifton High School Campus on Colfax Avenue, the Clifton Police Department Juvenile Division and Tactical Narcotics Team participated in a detail on Friday morning (02/17/2012) that yielded five arrests, all of which were juvenile CHS students. The operation targeted alleged drug related offenses that were taking place off-campus prior to the start of the school day, and was the result of a joint investigation between Clifton High School Administration and police detectives. All five of the arrested juveniles were charged with marijuana related offenses and will be mandated to appear in Passaic County Superior Court.