Two public employees in Passaic County recently pleaded guilty after an investigation revealed multiple instances of official misconduct, specifically, the theft of over $245,000 in public funds. 43-year-old social services technician Jecemia Echevarria and 30-year-old James Hayer, a Paterson housing inspector, accepted plea offers from the State just before their trials were set to begin.… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Offenses Against the Public
Police Arrest Second Defendant in Paterson Drive-By Shooting Case
As a follow-up to an ongoing case involving the tragic murder of a 15-year-old Paterson basketball star, a second defendant has been charged for allegedly participating in the fatal drive-by shooting that claimed the life of young Armoni Sexton. According to officials from the Passaic County Prosecutor s Office, 20-year-old Paterson resident Hasmeek Coles is… Continue Reading
Former Paterson Police Officer Accused of Drugs and Guns Crimes
Authorities from Bergen County recently arrested a retired member of the Paterson Police Department for allegedly selling Oxycodone pills to an undercover detective. 43-year-old former Paterson Police Officer Gines Rodriguez, of Pompton Lakes, is said to have sold Oxycodone pills to an undercover detective at an initial meeting in Fair Lawn. Shortly thereafter, investigators scheduled… Continue Reading
Man Arrested for Allegedly Posing as Essex County Sheriff’s Officer
A man was recently arrested after allegedly impersonating a special investigator from the Essex County Sheriff’s Office. He is now facing multiple charges, including unlawful possession of a weapon, as he was reportedly found in possession of a gun, among other items, at the time of his arrest. The investigation was prompted by a tip… Continue Reading
Continued Controversy over Bloomfield Police Department
There is continued debate surrounding the Bloomfield Police Department, which has been under investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office in connection with a number of prior incidents of alleged police misconduct. In the most recent developments, Mayor Michael Venezia is attempting to subject the department’s Internal Affairs division to a period of suspension until… Continue Reading
