From left to right: Joseph Agyemang, Jonell Danforth, Shavar Williams, and Youssouf Doumbouya
On June 12th, 2024, members of the Guttenberg Police Department’s Patrol Division responded to the area of Lydia Drive and River Road, after receiving a report of a criminal mischief to a vehicle. Upon their arrival, Officers were informed that the victim was surrounded by multiple individuals, who destroyed her vehicle’s windows with bricks, attempted to forcefully remove the victim from her vehicle and then stole her cell phone from her during the physical altercation. According to the victim, this all stemmed from a dispute at a recording studio in Union City. Following that dispute at the recording studio, the victim fled to avoid any issues, but was followed by the individuals who located her in our jurisdiction. After receiving this preliminary information, the investigation was pursued by members of the Guttenberg Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Bureau.
Following an investigation that spanned two months, Detectives with the Guttenberg Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Bureau were able to identify the suspects as 20-year-old Youssouf Doumbouya of Bronx, NY, 20- year-old Joseph Agyemang of Bronx, NY, 24-year-old Jonell Danforth of Bronx, NY, and 29-year-old Shavar Williams of Bronx, NY. As the result of this criminal investigation, on August 5th , 2024, all four suspects were charged with robbery [2C:15-1A(2)], two (2) counts of criminal restraint [2C:13-2A], theft [2C:20-3A], criminal mischief [2C:17-3A(1)], two (2) counts of harassment [2C:33-4C], possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose [2C:39-4D], and disorderly conduct [2C:33-2A(1)]. All charges were issued on complaint warrants, as the defendant’s whereabouts were unknown. As of today, Mr. Doumbouya and Mr. Williams have both been apprehended by the New York City Police Department, extradited to the State of New Jersey, and lodged in the Hudson County Correctional Center. Both Mr. Agyemang and Mr. Danforth have been arrested by the New York City Police Department and are awaiting extradition to the State of New Jersey, at which point they too will be lodged in the Hudson County Correctional Center.
Message from Deputy Chief Frank Pelaez: I’d like to thank my Officers and Detectives for working so diligently to solve this investigation. Also, I’d like to thank all of our law enforcement partners that have assisted us with this investigation, specifically the New York City Police Department’s Gun Violence Suppression Division. This should serve as a message to anyone that thinks they can come into the Town of Guttenberg and get away with committing such violent crimes and offenses. You will be identified; You will be apprehended; and you will observe how far we are willing to go to safeguard our communities.
If anyone has any information pertaining to this incident, they are encouraged to contact the Guttenberg Police Department at 201-868-3300 or email:
1. Lt. Steven Diaz - sdiaz@guttenbergpolice.org
2. Det. Sgt. Marcin Rysiec - mrysiec@guttenbergpolice.org
The charges above are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty in a court of law.