On September 21, 2023, at approximately 1:05 p.m., Police Officers Harry
Montalvo and Anthony Olivera responded to ShopRite, 900 Madison St., on
reports of a shoplifting. When they arrived, they learned that store security had
detained 58-year-old Carol Hipkins of Hoboken, who was observed attempting to
leave the store without paying for many items in her bags. The total value of the
items stolen was approximately $233. Hipkins was arrested, transported to
Hoboken Police Headquarters, charged with shoplifting, and processed. She was
released on a summons with a court date.
On September 22, 2023, at approximately 8:45 p.m., Sgt. Francis McCourt was
traveling on Newark Street, approaching the intersection of Jackson Street, when
he observed two motorcycles with no visible registration. Both motorcycle
operators continued to drive, failing to stop at two separate red lights. When Sgt.
McCourt activated his emergency lights and audible siren to stop both
motorcycles, the riders continued through another red light and drove toward the
Second Street Light Rail station, into a cul-de-sac with no other vehicular outlet.
Sgt. McCourt positioned his patrol car near the exit, and as he got out of his car,
noticed one of the motorcycles driving directly towards him and yelled at him to
stop. A New Jersey Transit Police vehicle was also in the area and the officer
activated his emergency lights and positioned the car behind the motorcycle. The
driver obeyed the Sergeant’s commands to stop and get off the bike. The second
motorcycle fled the area. Sgt. Jason Falco and Police Officers Anthony
Hochstadter, Domenick Allegretta, Harry Montalvo, Ricky Truppner, and Damien
Bates arrived on scene. The operator of the stopped motorcycle was identified as
26-year-old Justin Tango of Edison. He was placed under arrest for eluding. Tango
was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters, processed, issued additional
summonses for failure to observe a traffic signal, for being unlicensed, and for
unclear display of registration, and released from custody.
On September 23, 2023, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Police Officers Michael
Straten and Andrias Bonilla responded to the area of Second and Bloomfield
Streets, where Police Officers Keven De La Cruz and Frank Lombardi had stopped
three men, who were threatening another man, with a gun. The same three men,
identified as 23-year-old Julian Mangal of Irvington, 24-year-old Justin Matute of
Ridgefield Park, and 24-year-old Ronny Abreu of Paterson, were also suspected of
threatening other people with a stun gun earlier in the evening. That case remains
under investigation. Sgt. Saverio Binetti and Police Officer Aaron Font were also
on scene. While officers began to investigate, Matute ran from the scene. Officers
chased him and caught him on the 100 block of First Street, where he was placed
under arrest. A search incident to arrest located a black handgun in a fanny pack,
which was determined to be a BB gun. Officers also found a pocketknife in his
possession. He was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters. The other two
actors were also placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. Det.
Michael Losurdo took victim statements. Michael Matute was charged with
possession of weapons for unlawful purposes, unlawful possession of weapons,
making terroristic threats, and obstructing the administration of law. Mangal was
arrested and charged with making terroristic threats. Abreu was arrested and
charged with making terroristic threats. Abreu was also found to have an
outstanding warrant for drug possession in Ridgefield Park. Matute and Abreu
were transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility. Mangal was released
with a summons.
On September 23, 2023, at approximately 8:10 p.m., Police Officers Geovanni
Cruzado and Anthony Azzoline responded to CVS, 59 Washington St., on reports
of a shoplifting in progress. Upon arrival, store employees told them that a man,
known to officers as 38-year-old Christopher Johnson of Jersey City, entered the
store and took approximately $271.90 worth of deodorant and soap packages.
Police Officer Dominick Allegretta was also on scene. Johnson was charged with
shoplifting and defiant trespassing and transported to the Hudson County
Correctional Facility.
On September 23, 2023, at approximately 5:05 p.m., Police Officers Samuel
Flores and Harry Montalvo responded to ShopRite, 900 Madison St., on reports of
a shoplifting. Sgt. Jason Falco and Sgt. Francis McCourt also arrived on the scene,
where store security had stopped two juveniles who attempted to walk out of the
store without paying for multiple items in a shopping cart, totaling approximately
$431. An adult female had been with them during the theft but left before the
juveniles attempted to leave with the stolen items. The adult woman was identified
as 38-year-old Nathali Burgos-Minaya of Union City. Burgos-Minaya was
contacted, and arrived at police headquarters at approximately 7:10 p.m. She was
placed under arrest, processed, and charged with shoplifting and employing
juveniles in the commission of a crime. She was also found to have a warrant out
of Union Township for drug possession, and one out of Secaucus for theft by
deception. Burgos-Minaya was transported to Hudson County Correctional
Facility.
On September 25, 2023, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Officer Joseph Lupo
responded to Hoboken Police Headquarters to process the arrest of 41-year-old
Alice Picket of Jersey City for robbery. Pickett was operating a motorized scooter
she took from ShopRite, 900 Madison St., when she entered Classic Cleaners, 601
Grand St., and asked to charge the scooter. While alone in the front of the shop,
she took a smartphone off the counter, and left. A man ran after Pickett, and when
he approached her to get the phone, she hit him over the head with an umbrella.
Police Officer Joseph DiMartino located the phone in Pickett’s pocket. Shoprite
employees confirmed the scooter was property of the store. Pickett was charged
with unlawful possession of a weapon, robbery, and receiving stolen property. She
was transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On September 25, 2023, at approximately 4:55 p.m., Sgt. Roary Miller, and Police
Officers Ramon Estrella and Ramon Calderon responded to the 200 block of Grand
Street for a wellness check on a missing and/or endangered person. That person,
identified as 26-year-old Zachary Harrison of Old Lyme, CT, was located and
found to have an outstanding warrant out of Bucks County in Pennsylvania. He
was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters for processing and released from
custody.
On September 26, 2023, at approximately 6:10 p.m., Police Officer Ramon
Calderon was patrolling the area of 14th Street and Willow Avenue when he
observed a black SUV parked in a way that prohibited a bus from turning onto 14th
Street. It was learned that the driver, identified as 55-year-old Charlene Gordon of
Jersey City, was driving with an expired and suspended license. It was also
discovered that Gordon had one warrant out of Jersey City and two warrants from
Woodbridge. She was placed under arrest and transported to Hoboken Police
Headquarters for processing. She was later transported to Jersey City Police
Headquarters where she was placed into the custody of Jersey City Police.
*The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless, and
until, proven guilty in a court of law. *
