On June 27, 2024, at approximately 1 a.m., Detective Paul Quinn and Police Officer Nicolas Losurdo were conducting a routine check of Pier A Park to advise people that the park was closed, and they would have to leave. The officers observed an intoxicated man approaching their vehicle. When they told him the park was closed, he became irate and questioned why he had to leave. He matched the description of an actor in an aggravated assault in the area on June 24. He was identified as 37-year-old Jose Omar Rojas of Hoboken, and he had an outstanding failure to appear warrant for simple assault out of Jersey City. He was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters and then to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On June 27, 2024, at approximately 5:55 a.m., Police Officers Christopher Soto and Frank Losurdo responded to the Hoboken Shelter, 300 Bloomfield Street on reports of an assault. The caller, identified as 71-year-old Robert Blunt, of Columbus, New Jersey, told officers that he got into an argument with another man who then hit him in the face. Sgt. James Barbro arrived on the scene, as did the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps, who transported Blunt to an area hospital for treatment. An on-scene investigation revealed the other man was in fact defending himself, after Blunt first hit him with a cane. Blunt was arrested and charged with simple assault and unlawful possession of weapons. He was also processed on a warrant out of Lacey Township. He was released on a summons with a court date.
On June 27, 2024, at approximately 12:35 p.m., Police Officers Joseph DiMartino and Tyrone Huggins were near the intersection of Newark and Washington Streets when they saw a motorcycle being operated on the sidewalk. They watched the operator make a left turn onto Washington Street while the traffic light was red. They pulled the motorcycle over near the intersection of Observer Highway and Bloomfield Street. The motorcycle did not have a valid license plate. The driver, identified as 25-year-old Ailin Zorrilla of Union City, didn’t have a valid license. She had a receipt for the motorcycle, but a search of the VIN number found that the bike was reported stolen in New York. Sgt. Steven Kranz and Police Officers Roberto Cuevas and Shyenna Vega arrived on the scene. Zorrilla was arrested for receiving stolen property and transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters for processing. She was also issued motor vehicle summonses for failure to observe the traffic signal, driving on a sidewalk, having an unregistered vehicle, and driving without a license. She was given a copy of her summons and released. The motorcycle was towed from the scene.
On June 27, 2024, at approximately 6 p.m., Police Officers Arturo Gonzalez and Anish Bhisey responded to Hoboken Police Headquarters, where 57-year-old Henry Lee Carter of Newark turned himself in on an open and active warrant for loitering to obtain or distribute CDS. He was found to be in possession of a glass cylinder with steel wool and burnt ends containing possible CDS residue, two long, thin pieces of wood, a thin metal rod, and one medium-width metal rod all of which are associated with using CDS. He was processed on the active warrant and further charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. He was ultimately transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On June 27, 2024, at approximately 11:45 p.m., Police Officer Frank Losurdo responded to the 500 block of Observer Highway on reports of a car in the roadway, with two people arguing inside. When he arrived, Officer Losurdo did not believe the man and woman inside the vehicle were arguing. The driver, identified as 29-year-old Shaquille Powell of Chicago, appeared to be confused when asked basic questions, and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from this breath. When requested, he was unable to provide a valid driver’s license, insurance, or registration. Police Officers Arturo Gonzalez and Anish Bhisey arrived on the scene to assist with the motor vehicle stop. Officer Gonzalez conducted a basic field sobriety eye test. Police Officer Cynthia Rivera arrived on the scene and conducted a Standardized Field Sobriety Test, after which Powell was arrested. A search of his car located a bottle of cognac under the passenger seat. He was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters where an alcohol influence breath test was conducted. Powell was issued summons for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle. As per John’s Law, Powell was released into the custody of a responsible party.
On June 28, 2024, at approximately 12:24 p.m., Police Officer Arturo Gonzalez responded to the 900 block of Madison Street, on reports of an attempted theft. The victim reported that while he was making a food delivery on the 800 block of Madison Street, a man had pointed a gun at him and demanded his cell phone, which the actor took and ran towards CKO Gym, 900 Madison St. The victim told Detectives Luis Rodriquez and Christine Collins that he chased the suspect and caught up to him, but the suspect punched him in the face, causing cuts to his mouth. Officer Gonzalez and Police Officer Joseph Lupo searched the gym and spoke to witnesses who said the suspect was seen placing the gun in his bag. Lt. Luke Zeszotarski and Police Officers Brandon Fitzgibbons, Roberto Cuevas, and Jonathan Figueroa arrived on the scene. The suspect was located inside ShopRite, 900 Madison St. When he was told he was under arrest, the suspect, later identified as a 17-year-old juvenile from Jersey City, tried to run from officers and push through them. While they were attempting to handcuff him, the juvenile refused to follow orders and rather than placing his hands behind his back, he kept them in front of him. Two responding officers were injured during the arrest. Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps arrived and treated the victim on the scene. The injured officers were transported to an area hospital, for further evaluation. A firearm, later determined to be an imitation handgun, was located in the juvenile’s bag. He was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters and charged with juvenile delinquency, robbery, unlawful possession of weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with injury, and resisting arrest. He was processed on all charges and transported to the Morris County Juvenile Detention Center.
On June 30, 2024, at approximately 2 a.m.., Police Officers Nicholas Protopapadakis and Joshua Campoverde were patrolling the area of Second and Garden Streets, when they saw a car driving the wrong way down Garden Street. They pulled the vehicle over and told the driver to park the car. The driver, later identified as 22-year-old Antonio Ocampo of Union City, did not have a driver's license or any other proof of identification. It was discovered Ocampo had two open warrants out of Hudson County. He was arrested and transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters where he was also issued summonses for driving the wrong way on a one-way street and driving without a license. He was transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
On July 3, 2024, at approximately 11:50 a.m., Police Officers Enrico Gnassi and Jennifer Lee responded to ShopRite, 900 Madison St., on reports of a shoplifting. The actor, identified as 49-year-old Evelyn Aracena of Palisades Park, was in custody of store security officers, who saw her place $203.56 worth of merchandise in the bottom of a stroller. Store security stopped her when she attempted to leave without paying. She gave officers incorrect addresses, date of birth, and names. Aracena was arrested for shoplifting and hindering and transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters. She was released on a summons.
On July 3, 2024, at approximately 3:05 p.m., Police Officers Pizanie and Anthony Olivera responded to ShopRite, 900 Madison St., on reports of two shoplifters. Store security had stopped the actors, identified as 58-year-old Sheila Panzarelli of Hoboken and 64-year-old Janice Nuhic of Hoboken, after noticing they put items into bags and then tried to leave without paying for items. Panzarelli had $56.62 worth of merchandise with her, and Nuhic had $56.62 when security stopped them past the point of sale. Both were arrested for shoplifting, transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters, processed, and released with a summons and court date.
On July 3, 2024, at approximately 7:50 p.m., Police Officers Harold Milne, Shyenna Vega, Mark Mooreman, and Michael Losurdo were on the 300 block of Jackson Street when they were approached by a woman who asked for assistance. A man identified as 42-year-old Miguel Acevedo of Jersey City was with the woman. The officers went to the woman’s home where an investigation revealed Acevedo had a vehicle with a fictitious license plate. He was issued motor vehicle complaints for having an unregistered vehicle and fictitious license plates. It was also revealed he was wanted on a warrant in union City. He was arrested and transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters for processing. He was later transported to the Union City Police Department.