Uvaldo Gonzalez
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 42-year-old UVALDO GONZALEZ of the Bronx, NY on additional charges of armed robbery, carjacking, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, theft of a motor vehicle, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. The arrest was the result of a continuing investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, the South Hackensack Police Department under the direction of Chief Robert Chinchar, and the Port Authority Police Department under the direction of Superintendent Edward Cetnar.
As previously reported, on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at approximately 2:30 a.m., the South Hackensack Police Department responded to a business on Route 46 following a motor-vehicle crash and a reported stolen vehicle. The occupant of the crashed vehicle abandoned it after crashing, and attempted to steal another nearby vehicle, but was unsuccessful. Moments later, the suspect successfully committed an armed carjacking of an additional vehicle, allowing him to flee the scene before officers arrived. Responding officers notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and detectives from the Special Investigations Squad initiated a joint investigation. Detectives soon learned that the initial crashed vehicle was previously stolen in New York City during a separate armed carjacking and then travelled into New Jersey whereupon the incident in South Hackensack occurred.
A short time later while the investigation was just beginning, the vehicle carjacked from the business in South Hackensack was found disabled on the George Washington Bridge. Officers from the Port Authority Police Department responded and located the suspect operating the carjacked vehicle, later identified as UVALDO GONZALEZ, who was in possession of a knife and attacked the officers. Three police officers suffered injuries, one of whom sustained multiple slash and stab wounds. GONZALEZ also attempted to steal a police patrol vehicle during the confrontation.
UVALDO GONZALEZ was ultimately apprehended by the officers, transported to an area hospital, and charged with first-degree attempted murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(3)/2C:11-3a(1); second-degree attempted carjacking, N.J.S.A. 2C: 5-1a(3)/2C:15-2a(1); second-degree possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1b; third-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2); third-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(5)(a); third-degree receiving a stolen motor vehicle, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.2a; third-degree resisting arrest, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2a(3)a; fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5d; and possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2a.
On Friday, October 18, 2024, as a result of the continuing investigation, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the South Hackensack Police Department filed additional charges against UVALDO GONZALEZ for the events on Route 46 that preceded the incident on the George Washington Bridge. GONZALEZ, who was since released from an area hospital and lodged at the Bergen County Jail, was further charged with first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); first-degree carjacking, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-2a(2); third-degree receiving a stolen motor vehicle, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.2a; third-degree theft of a motor vehicle, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.1a; and third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d. GONZALEZ remains in custody at the Bergen County Jail pending additional court appearances in Bergen County Superior Court for the various charges filed in this case.
Prosecutor Musella states that all of the charges in this matter are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella thanks the Port Authority Police Department, the South Hackensack Police Department, the New York City Police Department, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this investigation.