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Valentine’s Day Tragedy: Teaneck Pedestrian Seriously Injured by Drunk Driver on Cedar Lane

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Bogota Man Charged with DWI After Striking Pedestrian Near Teaneck Cinemas

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Teaneck NJ, A 53-year-old Teaneck resident remains in serious condition following a devastating Valentine’s Day accident involving an intoxicated driver. The incident, which occurred late Friday night, has led to multiple charges against a Bogota man, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

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Bergen County Cyber Harassment Crisis: Man Arrested for Targeting 7 Victims with Obscene Online Messages

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NJ Cybercrime Alert: Hawthorne Man Faces Felony Charges for Digital Harassment

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hawthone NJ, the digital world, meant for connection, can quickly become a weapon. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office has recently announced a major arrest in a case involving extensive cyber-harassment targeting multiple victims across the county.

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Second Amendment Showdown: Gun Groups Sue Fort Lee Police Over ‘Unlawful’ Firearm Seizure

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Language Barrier Misunderstanding Leads to Constitutional Battle in New Jersey

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Fort Lee NJ, A lawful New Jersey gun owner, Elsid Aliaj, has been without his legally owned firearms for months following an incident in April, stemming from a critical language misunderstanding involving his wife. Now, two prominent gun-rights organizations are stepping in, filing a federal lawsuit against the Fort Lee Police Department (FLPD) and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

The case, Aliaj v. Fort Lee Police Department, was filed on November 3 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey by the New Jersey Firearm Owners Syndicate (NJFOS) and the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF).

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Hackensack Man Charged After Torching Police Cars Near Mosque and Gas Pumps, Prosecutors Say

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

HACKENSACK, NJ — September 3, 2025 — A Hackensack man is facing multiple arson charges after allegedly setting three police cars on fire in a municipal lot located dangerously close to a mosque and gas pumps, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

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Montclair Man Charged After Hate-Filled Email Rant Targeting 400+ Fort Lee Condo Residents

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

FORT LEE, NJ — A Montclair man was arrested after allegedly hacking into a Fort Lee condominium’s communication system and sending hundreds of residents threatening, hate-filled emails, prosecutors announced. Continue reading Montclair Man Charged After Hate-Filled Email Rant Targeting 400+ Fort Lee Condo Residents

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Milwaukee Man Arrested for Sexually Extorting North Arlington, Minor

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

NORTH ARLINGTON, NJ — A 34-year-old Milwaukee man has been arrested for sexually extorting a child under 13 in Bergen County, prosecutors announced Friday.

Christopher Battin was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Milwaukee on Tuesday after an investigation revealed he had targeted a North Arlington minor online.

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Fort Lee Man Arrested for Aggravated Sexual Assault and Child Endangerment in Teaneck

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Fort Lee, NJ — Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella has announced the arrest of 71-year-old Manuel A. Barrantes of Fort Lee, New Jersey, on charges of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest was made following a thorough investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, led by Chief Matthew Finck, in collaboration with the Teaneck Police Department, under Chief Andrew McGurr.

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Palisades Park Man Arrested for Sexual Assault and Child Endangerment, Authorities Say

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Palisades Park, NJ – A 23-year-old man from Palisades Park has been arrested and charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, according to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella.

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Details Emerge on Teaneck Crash that Killed 92-year-old Man

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Teaneck NJ, on June 28th the Ridgewood blog  reported that the Bergen County Prosecutor  was investigating a crash in Teaneck that resulted in the death of a 92-year-old man Albert Schnellbacker .

The Ridgewood blog has come into possession of the official Teaneck Police Department Report, Case Number 22-036206 along with the State of New Jersey Police Crash Investigation Report NJTR-1 to interpret the Police Report for this specific crash.

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SEC Appoints New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal as Director of Enforcement

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Washington D.C., the Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Gurbir S. Grewal has been appointed Director of the Division of Enforcement, effective July 26, 2021. Grewal currently serves as Attorney General for the State of New Jersey, a role he has held since January 2018, when he was confirmed by the New Jersey State Senate after being nominated by Governor Phil Murphy.

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Bergen County Prosecutor Investigates Bergen Town Center Homicide

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Maywood NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information:

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Bergen County Prosecutor Announces the Formation of the Bergen County Safe Schools Task Force

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may 23,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announces the formation of the Bergen County Safe Schools Task Force. The Task Force will take a multi-disciplinary approach to the issue of school safety, with the primary focus on developing best practices for prevention and response to potential school shooting situations.

According to Acting Prosecutor Calo, “The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”) and all of Bergen County Law Enforcement place the highest priority on the safety of our children, our schools, and school personnel.” He also noted that the BCPO has been at the forefront of the effort to ensure the safety of our schools and communities. For example, in 2013, the BCPO introduced a School Security Initiative comprised of officers from various Bergen County municipal police agencies. To further this effort, the BCPO sponsored training by Texas A & M University Engineering Extension Service (“TEEX”). As a result of that training, 56 police officers and 41 school security professionals were certified to conduct risk and vulnerability school assessments. Since then, Bergen County has coordinated the security assessments of 165 public and 56 private schools. The BCPO has also partnered with Bergen County municipal law enforcement agencies, the New Jersey Department of Education, and the New Jersey State Police to conduct unannounced visits to local schools to monitor and provide technical assistance for the enhancement of their lock-down procedures. To date, these unannounced visits have involved 66 schools from 42 school districts.

In 2017, the BCPO totally overhauled Bergen County law enforcement’s active shooter policy and training curriculum. Together with Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino and the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association, the BCPO trained every police officer in Bergen County in these new response protocols. Additionally, the BCPO, in conjunction with the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department, instituted the Regional SWAT Team’s mobile patrol, which puts specially trained and equipped officers on routine patrol throughout Bergen County for a more rapid and effective response to emergency situations, such as active shooter calls.

In addition to law enforcement’s efforts, many Bergen County school, mental health, and private sector professionals have been hard at work to address the dangers presented by active shooter situations. It is the goal of this newly formed task force to bring all of these professionals together under one umbrella to identify and implement best practices to address this problem in Bergen County.

The Acting Prosecutor has appointed Senior Assistant Prosecutor Martin Delaney, the Prosecutorial Chief of Investigations, as Executive Director of the Task Force. Assistant Prosecutor Delaney, who oversees all of the BCPO’s specialized prosecutions, has deep experience in crime prevention and response and serves as Legal Advisor to the Regional SWAT Team. Other members of the Task Force are drawn from the law enforcement, educational, mental health and business communities. These members and their affiliations are as follows: Chief Robert Anzilotti, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office; James J. Tedesco III, Bergen County Executive; Michael Saudino, Bergen County Sheriff; Park Ridge Police Chief Joseph J. Madden, President of the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association; Joseph Zarra, Interim Executive Bergen County Superintendent of Schools; Joseph Masciandaro, President/CEO of CarePlus New Jersey; Harrington Park School Superintendent Adam Fried, Ed.D., President of the Bergen County Association of School Administrators; Saddle River Police Department Sergeant Timothy Gerity, President of the New Jersey Association of School Resource Officers; Jonathan Miller, Bergen County Association of School Security Professionals; Julien Neals, Esq., Bergen County Counsel and Acting Bergen County Administrator; Mary Amoroso, Bergen County Freeholder Pro Tempore; Matt Zames, former Chief Operating Officer of JP Morgan Chase and board member of Tomahawk Strategic Solutions; Agent William Stallone, Risk Mitigation Planner/Critical Infrastructure Coordinator, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

The Acting Prosecutor stated with reference to the Task Force members, “These busy professionals have committed themselves to study and advise our school districts on best practices to prevent school violence and to keep our children safe. Part of that effort is identifying dangerous individuals and situations and addressing them before they turn into tragedies. The Task Force will also advise on the best law enforcement responses to violent situations.”
The Task Force is charged with making its initial recommendations by October 2018. However, the Acting Prosecutor emphasized that he envisions the Task Force as an ongoing endeavor to provide ever increasing safety to our schools and children.

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Bergen County Prosecutor Investigating Couples Deaths in Fatal House Fire

Teaneck Fire Department

January 30,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Teaneck NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the investigation into the deaths of Gerald Ryan (DOB: 6/18/1936; married; retired) and Roseann Ryan (DOB: 12/10/1936; married; retired), both of 130 Sherman Avenue, Teaneck, New Jersey, pending positive identification from the Bergen County Medical Examiner’s Office. The investigation is being conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, Teaneck Police Department under the direction of Chief Glenn O’Reilly, and Teaneck Fire Department under the direction of Fire Chief Jordan Zaretsky.
On Sunday, January 28, 2018, the Teaneck Police Department received a report of a house fire at 130 Sherman Avenue, Teaneck, New Jersey. When the Teaneck Police and Fire Departments arrived on scene, the single family residence was consumed by heavy fire and the occupants, Gerald and Roseann Ryan, were unaccounted for and presumed to be inside.

On Sunday, January 28 and Monday, January 29, 2018, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad and Arson Task Force, the Teaneck Police and Fire Departments, and Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted an investigation into the cause of the fire at 130 Sherman Avenue, Teaneck, New Jersey. the remains of Gerald and Roseann Ryan were located inside the residence. The exact cause of the fire is undetermined due to the extensive fire damage. However, the fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature.

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Bergen County Prosecutor announced the arrest of Staten Island Man for violation of New Jersey Civil Service and employment regulations and 343 EZ-Pass violations

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December 28,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrest of ANTHONY B. SAVINO (DOB: 03/29/1965; married; and employed as an attendant) of 62 Newton Street, Staten Island, New York on fraud charges. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti.

In October 2017, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received a complaint from representatives of the Bergen County Utilities Authority regarding an employee, Anthony B. SAVINO, who they believed had violated New Jersey Civil Service and employment regulations by obtaining employment with a public entity using a fraudulent New Jersey residential address.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined that, in 2013, SAVINO obtained a New Jersey driver’s license using a fraudulently obtained mailing address in Bergen County, New Jersey even though, at the time, he resided in Staten Island, New York. Using the New Jersey driver’s license as proof of residence, SAVINO applied for and obtained employment with the Bergen County Utilities Authority (“BCUA”). At the time of his application, employment at the public entity required applicants and non-exempt employees to maintain their primary residence in New Jersey as per the residency requirements of the New Jersey First Act. SAVINO maintained the fraudulently obtained address while employed at the BCUA and, in fact, changed his residency to a second, fraudulently obtained address in November 2017. Upon receiving a position with the BCUA, SAVINO applied for and obtained health insurance benefits by completing an insurance application on which he reported the fraudulent information.

On Friday, December 22, 2017, Anthony B. SAVINO was arrested in Paramus, New Jersey and issued a summons. Upon his release from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, SAVINO was turned over to the Port Authority Police Department on an unrelated matter. He was wanted by the Port Authority Police Department in reference to a theft of services investigation which was initiated as a result of 343 EZ-Pass violations committed utilizing an EZ-Pass account and vehicles to which he had access.

Anthony B. SAVINO was charged by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office with one count of Insurance Fraud, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-4.6(a), a 3rd degree crime; and one count of Falsifying Records, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-4(a), a 4th degree crime. SAVINO was released pending his first appearance in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court on January 10, 2018 at 8:30 a.m.

SAVINO was charged by the Port Authority Police Department and issued a summons for one count of Theft of Services, in an amount greater than $500 but less than $75,000, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-8(a), a 3rd degree crime. SAVINO was released pending his first appearance in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court on January 5, 2018 at 8:30 a.m.
Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Grewal would like to thank the Port Authority Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.

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Bergen County Prosecutor : RISE IN THEFT OF HIGH END MOTOR VEHICLES

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November 28 2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal is issuing a public advisory for county residents. During the past month, there has been a rise in motor vehicle thefts occurring in the overnight hours throughout Bergen County. Residents are advised to be aware of subjects entering their driveways for the purpose of stealing motor vehicles. Local police departments are aware of the crime spree and are actively investigating.

During this crime spree, actors looking to steal vehicles check door handles to determine if a vehicle is unlocked. If the keys are left in the unlocked vehicle, the actor(s) simply enter the vehicle, start the vehicle, and drive away.

If the vehicle is unlocked and no keys are left in the vehicle, actor(s) remove valuable items left in the vehicle by the victim, and then target the next available home.

On two occasions, multiple vehicles have been stolen from the same home. During the last month, there have been 30 incidents in 19 Bergen County towns.

To reduce your risk of becoming a victim, residents should do the following:

1. NOT LEAVE KEYS, or REMOTE KEY FOBS in an unattended VEHICLE.

2. Lock your vehicles.

3. Do not leave any valuable items in plain view inside your vehicle.

If there are any suspicious individuals lurking around a driveway at any time during the day or night, residents should immediately contact your local police department.