Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of 18-year-old DAMIEN I. FLORES of Garfield, NJ and 22-year-old SAMANTHA N. DELACRUZ of Elmwood Park, NJ on charges stemming from a falsely reported shooting incident in Garfield, NJ. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Garfield Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard Uram.
On Friday, July 26, 2024, a gunshot victim sought treatment at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson, NJ. The Paterson Police Department was notified, responded to the hospital, and identified DAMIEN I. FLORES of Garfield, NJ, who provided law enforcement with a statement indicating that he was shot in a drive-by shooting that took place near Belmont Park in Garfield, NJ. Accordingly, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified, responded, and initiated a joint investigation with the Garfield Police Department.
Further investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Garfield Police Department revealed that in the early morning hours of July 26, 2024, DAMIEN I. FLORES was taken to St. Joseph’s Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his leg. The injury was not life-threatening, and FLORES arrived at the hospital in a vehicle driven by SAMANTHA N. DELACRUZ. As the investigation progressed, DELACRUZ provided a contrary statement to law enforcement about the events of that night. Ultimately, detectives determined that there was no drive-by shooting in the area of Belmont Park as reported by FLORES, and the gunshot was an accidental, self-inflicted wound that occurred inside DELACRUZ’s vehicle.
As a result of the investigation, on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Garfield Police Department arrested DAMIEN I. FLORES and SAMANTHA N. DELACRUZ without incident. FLORES was charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b (1); and fourth-degree false report to law enforcement, N.J.S.A. 2C:28-4b (1). FLORES was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court. DELACRUZ was charged with third-degree hindering, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3a (3); and fourth-degree false report to law enforcement, N.J.S.A. 2C:28-4b (1). DELACRUZ was released pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court.
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 Garfield Police Department, the Elmwood Park Police Department, the Paterson Police Department, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this investigation.