Two Jersey City police officers and another man have been charged with terroristic threats and burglary after an incident in January.
- Two Jersey City police officers and another man were arrested and charged with terroristic threats and burglary.
- The incident involved threats made with a baseball bat in a private structure on Zabriskie Street.
- The officers were off-duty during the incident and have been suspended without pay pending their first court appearance.
Unlawful Entry and Threats by Jersey City Officers
On January 28, 2024, Adrian Tejada, 28, and Robert Nunez, 41, both police officers with the Jersey City Police Department, along with Mario Albero, 45, entered a private structure on Zabriskie Street in Jersey City.
During this unauthorized entry, the three men threatened to harm multiple people inside the building. The threats were reportedly made while Albero was wielding a baseball bat.
Investigation Leads to Arrests of Jersey City Officers
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Internal Affairs Unit led the investigation into the terroristic threats and burglary.
Tejada, Nunez, and Albero were arrested on Thursday following the investigation.
The prosecutor’s office credited both the HCPO Internal Affairs Unit and the Jersey City Police Department Internal Affairs Unit for their roles in the investigation and subsequent arrests.
Detailed Charges for Jersey City Officers and Accomplices
The charges against the three men are serious:
- Adrian Tejada and Robert Nunez: Each charged with three counts of terroristic threats and one count of burglary. Both officers were off-duty at the time of the incident. They started their careers as Jersey City police officers on January 2, 2019. Following the arrests, both officers were placed on modified duty and later suspended without pay.
- Mario Albero: Charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose (baseball bat), burglary, and unlawful possession of a weapon (baseball bat).
All three defendants were released pending their first court appearance, which is yet to be scheduled. The prosecutor’s office has not provided further details about the specific nature of the threats or the motive behind the incident.
Response to Jersey City Officer Misconduct
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez briefly described what happened and thanked the Internal Affairs units for their work.
The prosecutor’s office did not give more details about the threats or the incident. City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said the police department quickly acted by putting the officers on modified duty and then suspending them without pay after their arrests.
The incident involving police officers has raised concerns in the community about how off-duty police officers behave and what measures are in place to prevent such incidents.
The investigation and arrests show the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and the Jersey City Police Department are committed to enforcing the law and holding their officers accountable.
