Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of FRANK A. SALCEDO, 43; FRANCISCO SANDOVAL, 42; and BRIAN ARIAS, 40, on charges of armed robbery, kidnapping, weapons possession and other related offenses. The arrests are the result of a months-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and Teaneck Police Department under the direction of Chief Andrew McGurr.
On Friday, January 12, 2024, at approximately 2:58 pm, Officers from the Teaneck Police Department responded to an armed home invasion that occurred at a private residence on East Tryon Avenue. Responding officers discovered that since approximately 10:30 a.m., two adult victims were restrained inside the residence with zip-ties by three male suspects wearing masks and armed with handguns. Over the next few hours, two more adult victims arrived at the home, and were also restrained at gunpoint by the suspects. During this several hour period of captivity, one of the victims was attacked with a hammer and assaulted. The suspects also threatened to torture and kill one of the victim’s two juvenile children if they did not turn over money. During the incident, the suspects ransacked the residence; punched holes in the walls; ripped apart couches; destroyed furniture; and pulled vents and cabinets from the walls, all in what was suspected to be an attempt to locate money hidden in the house. Once the suspects left the residence, one of the victims was ultimately able to free themselves and call the police.
Accordingly, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified, responded, and initiated a joint investigation with the Teaneck Police Department. Based on the complex and diligent investigation, two suspect vehicles were subsequently identified as being involved in the armed home invasion. Additionally, law enforcement located a GPS tracking device that was surreptitiously affixed to one of the victims’ vehicles by the suspects. Ultimately, the three suspects who committed the armed home invasion and attack on the victims were identified by detectives as FRANK A. SALCEDO, FRANCISCO SANDOVAL, and BRIAN ARIAS.
As a result of the investigation, on July 1, 2024, FRANK A. SALCEDO was charged with four counts of first-degree kidnapping, N.J.S.A. 2C:13-1b(1); first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/ N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); two counts of third-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2); and second-degree armed burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C: 18-2a(1).
As a result of the investigation, on July 1, 2024, FRANCISCO SANDOVAL was charged with four counts of first-degree kidnapping, N.J.S.A. 2C:13-1b(1); first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/ N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); two counts of third-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2); and second-degree armed burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C: 18-2a(1).
As a result of the investigation, on July 1, 2024, BRIAN ARIAS was charged with four counts of first-degree kidnapping, N.J.S.A. 2C:13-1b(1); first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/ N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); two counts of third-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2); and second-degree armed burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C: 18-2a(1).
On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Teaneck Police Department, alongside officers from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (New York, Safe Streets Task Force) located and arrested FRANK A. SALCEDO, FRANCISCO SANDOVAL, and BRIAN ARIAS in the Bronx, New York. All three suspects were placed into the custody of the NYPD pending extradition to Bergen County, New Jersey.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella thanks the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department, the Englewood Police Department, and the Teaneck Police Department for their assistance with this investigation, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (New York, Safe Streets Task Force) and the New York City Police Department for their assistance in the apprehension of the defendants.