On April 11, 2024, at approximately 9 a.m., Sgt. Saverio Binetti and Police Officers Jonathan Figueroa, Arturo Gonzalez, and Jessica Arebalo responded to the area of 12th and Clinton Streets on a report of two males fighting. When they arrived, a witness said he had heard a what sounded like a front door being broken, and when he checked he saw a man wearing a FedEx jacket and carrying a black plastic bag. As the actor started to leave, the witness grabbed the bag ripping it, and multiple packages fell out. The actor, later identified as 39-year-old Joshua Portigues of Fair Lawn, fled but was later stopped by Det. Michael Losurdo near the Ninth Street Light Rail Station. A search incident to arrest recovered two glass cylindrical pipes with burnt tips, one metal push rod, and copper wiring, which are all commonly used to ingest CDS crack cocaine, as well as two wax like folds containing suspected CDS heroin. Officers also found a screwdriver on him. Portigues was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters where it was discovered he had warrants out of Kearney, Union City, Newark, and the State of New Jersey. Portigues was also wanted in connection to multiple package thefts in Hoboken dating back to March 25, 2024. He was charged with criminal mischief, burglary, possession of burglary tools, impersonation, theft, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of CDS.
On April 11, 2024, at approximately 1:40 p.m., Police Officer Paul Quinn responded to Organic Basic Foods, 204 Washington St., to obtain video footage from a shoplifting the day before. That report was taken by Police Officer Jessica Arebalo. Officer Quinn was able to positively identify the actor in the shoplifting as 49-year-old Kenneth Salazar of Union City. Salazar was found to have an existing warrant from the Hudson County Sherrif’s Office for burglary. Another warrant was issued charging Salazar with shoplifting in Hoboken. On April 12, 2024, at about 7:55 p.m., Sgt. Adam Colon observed Salazar near First Street and Willow Avenue. Sgt. Colon and Police Officer Jason Montalvo stopped Salazar. Det. Sgt. William Collins and Officer Quinn arrived on the scene, and Salazar was placed under arrest. A glass cylindrical pipe containing steel wool and burnt ends, commonly used to inhale CDS crack cocaine was found inside his pants pocket. He was further charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Salazar was later transported to the Hudon County Correctional Facility.
On April 11, 2024, at approximately 8:25 p.m. Sgt. Ryan Houghton was in the area of Hudson Street and Hudson Place when he observed a moped being ridden on the sidewalk for a full block. Sgt. Houghton gave commands to stop. The operator, later identified as 28-year-old Jorge Espinoza-Almeida of Jersey City, turned his head to acknowledge the sergeant and maintained eye contact with him, but then fled south on Hudson Street. Police Officer Ramon Calderon was directing traffic nearby and stopped the moped on a bicycle path near the intersection of Observer Highway and Washington Street. Espinoza-Almeida was issued a complaint for obstructing the administration of the law and was released on the scene. He was also given a summons for operating without a license and operating on the sidewalk. The moped was towed.
On April 11, 2024, at approximately 11:40 p.m., Police Officers Marc Lombardi and Nasir Willey responded to the 300 block of Jackson Street, on reports of a man in a wheelchair who appeared to be in distress. When they arrived, they identified the man as 59-year-old Gustavo Rodriguez of Union City. Rodriguez had been told earlier in the day not to trespass on Hoboken Housing Authority property and was further told, if he did trespass again, he would be issued a complaint for defiant trespassing. Rodriguez was issued the complaint and released with a copy.
On April 13, 2024, at approximately 3:05 a.m., Police Officer Nicholas Protopapadakis was working an outside employment job when he observed a car driving the wrong way on Garden Street near Fourth Street. The car was pulled over. Police Officers Andrias Bonilla and Joshua Campoverde arrived on the scene to assist. While speaking with the driver, later identified as 23- year-old Arzana Gjakova of Roselle Park, officers observed several open containers of hard seltzer behind the driver’s seat. Gjakova’s eyes appeared to be bloodshot and watery, and there was a heavy scent of alcoholic beverages coming from inside of the car. Lt. David Olivera, and Police Officers Jessica Arebalo and Kyle Seper arrived on the scene. Gjakova was given a series of standardized field sobriety tests, after which she was arrested for driving while intoxicated. She was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters and issued summonses for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, and for having an open container. As per John’s Law, she was released into the custody of a responsible party.
On April 13, 2024, at approximately 9:52 p.m., Police Officers Rose Kanan and Remy Garcia-Marte were patrolling the area of the Hoboken Housing Authority when they observed two men, who they knew were not residents. The officers recognized the men as 30-year-old Adolph Delbridge and 33-year-old Aaron Delbridge, both of Hoboken, and saw them enter a building on the 600 block of Sixth Street. Officers conducted a sweep of that building and located the men on a third-floor stairwell. Officers observed a glass cylindrical tube with bunt edges, commonly used to smoke CDS crack cocaine in Aaron Delbridge’s hand and he was placed under arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia and defiant trespassing. A search incident to arrest found three empty white wax folds. Adolph Delbridge was placed under arrest for defiant trespassing and a search incident to arrest located a glass cylindrical tube with burnt edges, commonly used to smoke CDS crack/cocaine, and four empty white wax folds. He was further charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Both were transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters and processed. It was learned that Adolph Delbridge had an active bench warrant with the Hudson County Sheriff Department. Both were transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On April 15, 2024, at approximately 8:25 p.m., Police Officers Daniel Barron and Alexander Miller were on Third Street near Madison Street when they saw two men in a verbal altercation. As they exited their patrol car, they heard one of the men reference a knife and a stabbing. The officers separated the men. Police Officers Kyle Seper, Shyenna Vega, and Damien Bates arrived on the scene. One of the individuals was identified by the officers as 56-year-old Richard Maldonado of Hoboken. An on-scene investigation revealed that Maldonado went into the other man’s business on the 200 block of Madison Street and attempted to sell him a poker table. When the victim said he didn’t want to buy the table, Maldonado became irate and agitated and threw the table in front of the business. During an argument, Maldonado pointed a pocketknife at the victim. He was placed under arrest. A search incident to arrest located three metal push rods used to stuff a cylindrical glass pipe, commonly used to smoke CDS crack cocaine. Maldonado continued to yell at the victim in a threatening manner. He was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters and charged with aggravated assault, possession of weapons for unlawful purposes, unlawful possession of weapons, making terroristic threats, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was ultimately transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On April 16, 2024, at approximately 12:45 p.m., Police Officer Arturo Gonzalez responded to Police Headquarters to process a man who had been transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters by West New York Police Officers. The man, 33-year-old Jonathan Soto of Hoboken, was wanted on a warrant for the unlawful use of credit cards, conspiracy to unlawfully use credit cards, and receiving stolen property. The charges were in connection to a car break-in and burglary on the 1500 block of Adams Street on March 26, 2024, in which multiple personal items were stolen, along with the car owner's driver's license, debit card, and credit card. The cards were used to make several fraudulent charges in and around Hoboken and Jersey City. That report was taken by Police Officer Frank Francolino. A follow up investigation by Police Officer Samuel Flores and Detective John Quinones used surveillance footage from stores where the stolen cards were used, to identify Soto as one of the actors. He was processed and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility. Further investigation identified the second actor as 55- year-old Brian Nealon of Hoboken, after North Bergen Police Officers recognized him in photographs. A warrant complaint was generated charging Nealon with unlawful use of credit cards, conspiracy to unlawfully use credit cards, receiving stolen property.
On April 16, 2024, at approximately 4:35 p.m., Sgt. Dennis Figueroa and Police Officer Harold Milne responded to ShopRite, 900 Madison St., on reports of a shoplifting. Store security had the actor, later identified as 44-year-old Manuel Rodriquez of Union City, in custody after he tried to steal $154.47 worth of oxtail meat. Rodriquez was placed under arrest and transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters for processing. He was found to have warrants from Bayonne and Jersey City. He was later transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On April 16, 2024, at approximately 9:05 p.m., Police Officers Harry Montalvo and Anthony Azzoline were on patrol on the 300 block of Jackson Street when they observed a man they recognized as 33-year-old Angel Lopez-Sierra of Hoboken. They knew he was wanted on an outstanding warrant for shoplifting on April 14. In that incident, Police Officers Anthony Rutkowski and Damian Bates responded to Walgreens,1300 Willow Ave., after a man took multiple items worth a total of 287.39 and left without paying. During a follow-up investigation, Police Officer Harold Milne identified Lopez-Sierra as the actor using surveillance video from the store. On April 16, Lopez-Sierra was arrested and a search incident to arrest found him in possession of a small glass round pipe burnt on both sides, a used hypodermic needle, and metal push rods. Lopez-Sierra was further charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to police headquarters for processing on the shoplifting and drug charges and then transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On April 16, 2024, at approximately 11 p.m., Police Officers Harold Milne and Jessica Areballo were patrolling Fourth Street near Park Avenue when they observed a man they recognized as 45-year-old Jersey City resident Joseph Dietz who they knew had an outstanding warrant for aggravated assault and weapons possession. They approached Dietz and placed him under arrest for bail jumping. He was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters, processed, and then taken to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On April 17, 2024, at approximately 4:25 p.m. Police Officers Shelby Seickendick, Anthony Hochstadter, and Shyenna Vega responded to ShopRite, 900 Madison St., on reports of a shoplifting. Store security had custody of the actor, later identified as 38-year-old Clement Jerome of Jersey City, who was seen with another man in the liquor department, placing numerous bottles of alcohol into a bag worth approximately $336.87, and leaving without paying. A search incident to arrest was conducted. Ultimately, Jerome was found to be in possession of a glass cylindrical pipe and three metal push rods. Jerome was told he is banned from ShopRite and was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters for processing. He was found to have a warrant out of Bayonne. He was later transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility