FIGHT/AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ARREST

On Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at approximately 2:45 P.M., Clifton patrol officers came upon a fight in progress between two female, high school students in the vicinity of 714 Clifton Avenue. As the officers intervened, the 15 year old boyfriend of one of the involved combatants, lunged at the officers numerous times. After being pushed away repeatedly, the individual continued to physically interfere with the police officers as they were in the process of breaking up the fight. The officers then attempted to place the individual under arrest, however he physically resisted; ultimately causing the altercation to enter the roadway (Clifton Avenue). After a lengthy struggle that took place in traffic, the suspect was eventually placed under arrest. 

Subsequent to his arrest, the suspect continued with his belligerent and aggressive behavior toward officers. Upon arrival at police headquarters, the suspect began to spit on the floors of the police department, refusing to comply with officers in the booking area.
The suspect was later charged with multiple counts of Aggravated Assault (on police), multiple counts of Resisting Arrest, one count of Obstruction of a Govenmental Function, and two counts of Criminal Mischief. He was later remanded to the Essex County Detention Center in Newark, NJ

Liquor Store Robbery

Earlier today, at approximately 9:15 AM, two men entered the "Wine Country" liquor store located at 519 Piaget Avenue, Clifton, and commited an armed robbery. One of the suspects wore a ski mask and was in possession of a handgun, while the second suspect wore a hood over a portion of his head. Upon entry, the masked suspect approached the cash register area, pointed the weapon at an employee and proceeded to pistol whip him numerous times about the face. Meanwhile, the second suspect locked the front doors and acted as a "lookout". The suspects subsequently removed cash and liquor from the store and fled the scene on foot toward Luddington Avenue. Numerous police personnel responded to the scene and conducted a thorough search of the area with the assistance of K-9, however the suspects were unable to be located.

The subsequent retrieval of video surveillance from the scene revealed that the masked suspect was approximately 5'9" in height, with a heavy build. The second suspect is believed to be of Hispanic descent, with a thin to medium build. Both suspects wore dark colored pants and gray, hooded sweathshirts.

The employee sustained injuries to his head and was conveyed to a local hospital for treatment.

See the video of the crime as well as still images of the actors below. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Clifton Police Detective Bureau @ 973-470-5908 or the Clifton Police Communications Center @ 973-470-5911 (24 hours a day). Callers can remain anonymous.

ARREST: Fatal Hit and Run

After an investigation that lasted nearly three weeks, the Clifton Police Department Traffic Division, in conjunction with the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, have made an arrest in the fatal hit and run accident that took the lives of two pedestrians on March 17, 2012 at the intersection of Rt.46 East and 7th Street.

 

As the investigation progressed, investigators were able to piece together certain remnants of the suspect vehicle; which ultimately confirmed that the vehicle in question was a 2002-2005 Cadillac Escalade, black in color. Subsequent to obtaining this information, investigators compiled a data base of every Cadillac Escalade (2002-2005) registered in the State of New Jersey and were eventually able to narrow the list down to certain vehicles registered within the immediate area. On Saturday, March 31, 2012, investigators located what appeared to be the suspect vehicle at a body shop in Newark, NJ. Over the next few days, investigators obatained search warrants, seized evidence (including the 2003 Cadillac Escalade in question) and ultimately drafted criminal charges against the registered owner of the vehicle and alleged driver of same during the fatal accident, Jason Askew (42) of Paterson, NJ.

 

Late yesterday afternoon, investigators arrested Askew on two (2) counts of Leaving the Scene of an Accident, two (2) counts of Endangering an Injured Victim, Tampering with Evidence, and Hindering Apprehension. Askew was transported to Clifton Police Headquarters where he was processed and held on $250,000 (no 10%) bail.

 

The investigation was conducted by Clifton Police Officers Brian Fopma, William Bais, and Sgt. Michael Bienkowski, as well as Detective Tim McConnell from the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office.  The Clifton Police Department would like to thank the Passaic County Sheriff's Department Crime Scene Unit for their help with the processing of the suspect vehicle.

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.