Oliver Checo
On December 4th, 2024, members of the Guttenberg Police Department’s Patrol Division responded to an apartment building near the corner of 70th Street and Hudson Avenue after receiving a report of a possible burglary and criminal mischief. Upon their arrival, officers observed damages to an apartment door, consistent with the door being kicked in. Video surveillance was reviewed and showed that 37-year-old Oliver Checo of Guttenberg, NJ, walked up to the apartment door, kicked it in, then entered his apartment next door. Once identified as the suspect, officers were also made aware that Mr. Checo had an active criminal warrant for criminal mischief [2C:17-3A(1)] and disorderly conduct [2C:33-2A(1)] after damaging the building’s mailboxes on December 2nd, 2024. Due to the active investigation and the active criminal warrant for his arrest, officers attempted to make contact with Mr. Checo, who refused to open his door and barricaded himself inside of his apartment. As a result, the Guttenberg Police Department immediately contacted the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team and requested they respond to assist. Upon their arrival, the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team was given tactical command of the scene and a 12-hour long standoff ensued. Following his apprehension for the already active criminal warrant, Mr. Checo was also charged with two (2) additional counts of criminal mischief [2C:17-3A(1)], three (3) counts of terroristic threats [2C:12-3B], resisting arrest [2C:29-2A(3)], and obstructing the administration of law [2C:29-1A]
On December 5th, 2024, following the approval of a Superior Court authorized search warrant, members of the Guttenberg Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Bureau executed a search warrant of Mr. Checo’s apartment. During their search, detectives recovered a black Smith & Wesson handgun, loaded with hollow point ammunition. Detectives also found and recovered numerous small square tabs, believed to be LSD. Upon the recovery of this evidence, Mr. Checo was also charged with being a certain person not to possess firearms [2C:39-7B(1)] and the possession of a controlled dangerous substance [2C:35-10A(1)].
Message from Deputy Chief Frank Pelaez: These types of dangerous and critical incidents are becoming far too common Statewide. Discovering that a handgun was immediately accessible to the defendant during this incident should highlight the dangerous situations our law enforcement officers are exposed to on a regular basis, without knowing what dangers are present before them. I’d like to thank my officers for their dedication and heroism to continue keeping the residents of the Town of Guttenberg safe. I’d also like to thank our law enforcement partners with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team for always being available to provide their assistance and expertise. This incident should also highlight the importance of the public’s cooperation with law enforcement when they become aware of individuals that possibly pose a direct threat to the public. We must all continue to work together as a community to ensure the safety of our Town.
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.