Dramatic Arrest: Hackensack Man Accused of Park Assault and Gun Threats is Caught After Community 911 Call.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, a crucial tip from a vigilant resident led to the swift arrest of a wanted Hackensack man who was allegedly walking through a city street late Friday night with a gun in his hand. The arrest by the Hackensack Police Department (HPD) resolved a months-old assault case involving threats of violence.
Arrest on Main Street Follows 911 Call
The incident unfolded on Friday, November 14, at 10:18 p.m., when a 911 caller reported seeing a man openly walking with a gun near 116 Holt Street.
HPD Detectives James Han and Gunther Lara-Nunez responded immediately and located the suspect minutes later near the busy intersection of Main and Bridge streets.
The suspect, identified as Jose E. Riofrio-Castillo, 20, of Hackensack, was taken into custody. Police recovered a BB gun—specifically a Beretta 92A1, 6 mm BB—from his jacket pocket. He was initially charged with unlawful possession of a weapon on a complaint warrant for the BB gun.
Tied to Park Attack Involving Serious Threats
The arrest quickly solved a more serious outstanding case. Further investigation revealed that Riofrio-Castillo was also wanted on an active warrant stemming from an assault at Columbus Park in Hackensack on August 19.
In that incident, police allege that he punched a man repeatedly, placed him in a chokehold, and then escalated the threat by putting a gun into the victim’s back and warning, “bullets don’t lie.”
For the August incident, Riofrio-Castillo now faces multiple felony-level charges:
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Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon
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Terroristic Threats
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Three counts of Simple Assault
Police Thank Community for Vital Tip
Detective Captain Darrin DeWitt praised the community member whose 911 call led directly to the arrest.
“I thank the resident who made the 9-1-1 phone call. We were able to take a dangerous, wanted person off the streets and keep the community safer,” said Captain DeWitt.
This case highlights the critical importance of community involvement in public safety. Reporting suspicious activity allows police to intervene quickly and prevent potential harm.
Riofrio-Castillo has been remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first court appearance at Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.
Note: The charges against the defendant are merely an accusation, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Share Anonymous Tips
Anyone with information regarding this case or any other incident is asked to contact CrimeStoppers of Bergenfield, Englewood, Teaneck, Hackensack, and Bogota. Tips can be submitted anonymously:
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Online: bergencrimestoppers.org
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Call: 844-466-6789
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