Tis the Season: Teens Arrested After Knife Attack on Couple at Garden State Plaza AMC Parking Lot

Couple Attacked, Woman Held at Knifepoint in Garden State Plaza Parking Lot; Three Teens Charged

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, Paramus Police have arrested three North Jersey teens following a terrifying assault and robbery attempt that occurred in the AMC movie theater parking lot at Westfield Garden State Plaza last weekend. The incident involved the use of a deadly weapon, leading to serious charges against the suspects.

Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti confirmed the arrests, stating that the attack targeted a male and female victim who had just entered their vehicle one night last week.

Details of the Violent Attack

The investigation revealed disturbing details about the assault:

• Knife Threats: Suspect Joshua Ortiz, 19, of Allendale, allegedly pulled out a large knife and threatened to kill both victims. According to Chief Guidetti, Ortiz pressed the knife directly against the left side of the female victim’s face while making these terroristic threats.

• Prior Relationship: The female victim recognized one of her assailants, confirming that she had been communicating with him in a prior casual relationship, which may have motivated the targeted attack.

The swift identification and arrest of the suspects were made possible through the coordinated efforts of Detective Josh Capizzi, Garden State Plaza Security, and other law enforcement agencies.

Suspects and Charges

All three suspects are residents of North Jersey and face multiple charges related to the violent encounter:

Suspect Name	Age, Town	Primary Charges
Joshua Ortiz	19, Allendale	Terroristic Threats, Simple Assault, Weapons Offenses (Arrested in Paterson)
Dennis Morales Jr.	20, Fair Lawn	Criminal Restraint, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault (Arrested by Paterson Police)
Kevin Parella	18, Paterson	Aggravated Assault (Taken into custody in Paterson)

Chief Guidetti extended thanks to the Paterson Police Department, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Squad, and Westfield Garden State Plaza Security for their vital assistance in tracking down and apprehending the suspects.

Safety at Garden State Plaza

This incident serves as a stark reminder for shoppers and moviegoers to remain vigilant in parking areas, especially during evening hours and the busy holiday shopping season. Authorities stress the importance of immediately reporting any suspicious activity.

The quick collaboration between Paramus Police and the mall’s security team was crucial to resolving this case and ensuring that those responsible for this shocking act of violence were taken into custody.

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