Secaucus Police have announced the arrest of two men in connection with an armed carjacking and robbery.

On Wednesday, July 20, at 10:49 a.m., a 66-year-old woman reported to Secaucus Police that she was robbed and carjacked at knifepoint by two males in the Walmart parking lot at 400 Park Plaza Drive.

The victim was uninjured, but the suspects stole cash and her 2016 BMW M23 convertible. Upon the arrival of police, the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit conducted an on-scene investigation.

The on-scene investigation determined that the suspects came to Secaucus in a 2022 Nissan Altima, which was later confirmed to have been carjacked from New York City on Tuesday, July 19. Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit Detectives developed information that the BMW M23 was in the area of Brenner Street in Newark and responded to the area.

Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit Detectives, with the assistance of members of the Newark Police Department, located the stolen 2022 Nissan Altima occupied by Xavier Cenpin and Caliente Gaillard, both 19-year-olds from Newark. Cenpin was found in possession of the knife used in the crimes at the time of his arrest.

Also while in the area of Brenner Street, Newark Police observed the victim’s 2016 BMW M23. The operator of the vehicle fled and remains at large.

The Essex County Sheriff’s Office recovered the unoccupied 2016 BMW M23 a short time later within the confines of Newark. The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests may be made.

“When someone is the victim of a crime in Secaucus, I have authorized my Detectives to follow the case into any jurisdiction so that justice can be served,” Chief Dennis Miller said. “I am proud of the diligent efforts and determination of the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit and for making arrests in this case within hours of the crimes. I am thankful for the assistance from the Newark Police Department and Essex County Sheriff’s Office. I am hopeful our criminal justice system prevails and the defendants will be held accountable for victimizing an innocent woman at knifepoint.”

Cenpin and Gaillard are both charged with Armed Carjacking, Armed Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Carjacking and Armed Robbery and Receiving Stolen Property. Cenpin was additionally charged with Unlawful Possession of Weapon and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.

Gaillard was also wanted by the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for Burglary. Both were lodged in the Hudson County Jail. These charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

Secaucus is seeking to change the cost and hours of parking meters in the town.

The Town Council voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance that would do so at a meeting in late June. Mayor Michael Gonnelli was absent, so Third Ward Councilman Bill McKeever chaired the meeting in his place.

The ordinance would amend the town code section on “Vehicles and Traffic” parking meter pricing and hours. While not listed on the agenda, the ordinance was added on at the meeting.

According to the ordinance, the amendments aim “to address changes in meter and paid parking technology and use of the areas by the public.” This includes changes to the enforcement of hours to include additional days in some cases, rate increases in most areas, and other adjustments such as to the maximum amount of time a vehicle can be parked in a space.

First Avenue and Front Street

Unless specified otherwise, all metered parking spaces would be enforced from Monday through Saturday instead of Monday through Friday.

On First Avenue, from Center to the driveway of 150 Plaza Center, the metered parking spaces hours are enforced from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The time limit would remain at two hours, but would increase from 5 cents per quarter hour to 25 cents per half hour.

On First Avenue, from Wilson Avenue to the driveway of 100 Plaza Center, the metered parking would remain enforced from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a limit of 12 hours, but the rate would increase from 25 cents an hour to 25 cents per half hour.

On First Avenue, from the driveway of 150 Plaza Center running east, the hours would remain enforced from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The time limit would decrease from five hours to two hours and the rate would increase from 25 cents an hour to 25 cents a half hour.

On Front Street, the enforcement of hours would remain the same at two hours maximum from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for most of the street, except for the north running portion opposite of Front Street between Humboldt Street and Golden Avenue which would be enforced for 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The rates all would increase from 5 cents for a quarter hour to 25 cents for a half hour.

Golden Avenue, Humboldt Street, Irving Place, Minnie Place, and Wilson Avenue

On Golden Avenue, enforcement of hours would remain the same from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for 30 minutes on the west side of the street and two hours on the east side. The rate would increase from 25 cents for hour to 25 cents per half hour. 

On Humboldt Street, the enforcement of hours would remain the same on both sides of the street from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for two hours. The rate would increase from 25 cents per hour to 25 cents per half hour.

On the east side of Irving Place and both sides of Minnie Place, the enforcement of hours for metered parking would remain the same at two hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The rate would increase from 25 cents per hour to 25 cents per half hour.

On Wilson Avenue on both sides, the enforcement would remain the same from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m for two hours, but the rate would increase from 5 cents per half hour to 25 cents per hour.

Municipal parking lots

At the municipal parking lot on Centre Avenue and Irving Place, a number of changes would occur.

Previously the lot is separated along the meridian. To the east of that, all parking spaces are enforced at 12 hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a rate of 25 cents per hour of $1.50 for 12 hours. The first four spaces north of the entrance are enforced for 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 25 cents per hour. All the spaces to the west of the meridian are enforced for 2 hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for 5 cents per 15 minutes, 10 cents per 30 minutes, and 25 cents per hour.

The changes would see all spaces except for the first four spaces north of the entrance to be enforced for four hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for 25 cents per half hour up to the first two hours, then it would be $3 each subsequent hour. The first hour spaces would be enforced the same but the rate would increase to 25 cents per half hour.

At the municipal parking lot at Paterson Plank Road across from Hubert Street School, the enforcement would remain at the same from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. but would increase from 30 minutes maximum to four hours. The rate would change from 25 cents per hour with a maximum of $2.75, to 25 cents per half hour for the first two hours and $3 each subsequent hour.

The electric vehicle charging spaces in that lot would remain the same at 24-hour enforcement of 3 hours, at a rate of $1.50 for the first two hours and $5 for the third hour. However, the enforcement would now stipulate it is enforced seven days a week.

The ordinance also denotes that the 24 hour enforcement of three hour electric vehicle parking at both the Secaucus Public Library and Secaucus Recreation Center parking lots would be enforced seven days per week. The rate would remain the same at $1.50 per hour for the first two hours and $5 for the third hour.

Paterson Plank Road

On Paterson Plank Road, on the north side between Wilson Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue, enforcement hours would remain the same at two hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but the rate would increase from 5 cents per quarter of an hour to 25 cents per half hour. 

On the south side between Post Place 1 and Irving Place, enforcement would remain the same from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with three metered spaces for 15 minutes maximum and 7 spaces for two hours maximum, but the rate would increase from 5 cents per quarter of an hour to 25 cents per half hour.

On Paterson Plank Road in front of 1301 Paterson Park Road to 1313 Paterson Plank Road and opposite of 1305 Paterson Plank Road to 1313 Patterson Plank Road, the enforcement would remain the same from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for two hours maximum but the rate increase from 5 cents per quarter of an hour to 25 cents per half hour.

From 1301 Paterson Plank Road to 1305 Paterson Plank Road, the enforcement would remain the same from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for 30 minutes, but the rate would increase from 5 cents per half hour to 25 cents per hour.  

On the south side of Paterson Plank Road between Irving Place and Humboldt Street, the enforcement would remain the same from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for one hour, but the rate would from 5 cents per half hour to 25 cents per hour.  

Also on the south side of the street, in the Plaza Business District, enforcement hours would be from 9 a.m. to now 6 p.m., changing from 6 a.m., for one hour. The rate increases from 5 cents per half hour to 25 cents per hour.  

South from 1271 Paterson Plank Road to 1285 Paterson Plank Rad, the enforcement hours would remain the same from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. but would now include every day instead of just Monday through Friday. The rate would increase from 5 cents per half hour to 25 cents per hour.  

Other traffic and vehicle changes

The town council also introduced another ordinance related to “Vehicles and Traffic,” that would update fire zones and add one on Park Place. This was another add-on item not present on the agenda prior to the meeting.

The public hearing for both ordinances is set for Tuesday, July 26 at 7 p.m. The Secaucus Town Council regularly meets in the council chambers at Town Hall at 1203 Paterson Plank Road. For more information, go to secaucusnj.gov.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

With summer in full swing, Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli recently updated residents on the state of local parks, encouraging adults and youth alike to take advantage of the outdoors.

“Schools are now closed for the summer and there’s no better place to enjoy the outdoors than right here in Secaucus,” Gonnelli said in the towns monthly newsletter. “As you may know, Secaucus has more than 20 parks and playgrounds with more than 205 acres of open space and recreational facilities. Our location along the Hackensack River provides us with not just functional recreational space, but also scenic vistas where you can enjoy the beauty of nature.”

Gonnelli touted the town’s existing parks, noting a new park was under construction as well as a number of ongoing renovations.

“My Town Council, Administration and I find ways to preserve and upgrade these spaces, and we have several projects underway that will continue to improve our parks and playgrounds,” Gonnelli said.

Trolley Park will be completely refurbished with new cushioned mats and new playground equipment, Gonnelli announced. Over at Naters Park on Koelle Boulevard, the flooring surface will be replaced.

Construction on the Farm Road Park, adjacent to Acorn Park has begun. When finished, the new park will have a passive recreation area, benches, and a dog park.

The town also recently announced plans for a garden on Meadowlands Parkway. According to Gonnelli, in mid-June several volunteers gathered at the site to help the New Jersey Native Plant Society prepare the ground and plant native plants.

“It promises to be a beautiful, serene sensory garden and community space,” Gonnelli said.

Gonnelli concluded by thanking the Department of Public Works for keeping the parks and other areas of town in tip top shape: “Apart from these major upgrades, the DPW continues to do a tremendous job keeping our Town, facilities, parks and playgrounds clean and welcoming. Season after season, the Town center comes alive with flowers and colors that make Secaucus special.”

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

In the wake of the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Mayor Michael Gonnelli and Secaucus Police Department Chief Dennis Miller reviewed the safety measures taken by the town. They wanted to ensure that protocols are in place for the safety and security of students, teachers, and staff throughout the school district.

“It was heartbreaking to hear updates as events unfolded in Uvalde,” said Gonnelli in the town’s monthly newsletter. “No family should fear for their child’s safety while at school. I would like to assure parents that our schools are as safe as they can be. Our Police Department goes above and beyond in reviewing security protocols and enhancing their training, and I have full confidence in them.”

“We take student safety very seriously,” Miller said. “Secaucus has many security measures in place already. We’re ahead of the curve and take advanced steps that many other towns do not.”

Miller laid out a three-pronged approach to all security measures at school: prevention, deterrence, and effective response.

Safety protocols in place

There is a special team of police officers at Secaucus schools, with one officer posted at Mill Ridge School, Huber Street School, Clarendon School and Secaucus Middle School. According to the town, the team is comprised of retired police officers who are fully trained, armed and hold full police powers. At the High School, a full time Secaucus Police Department officer is on duty, along with the L.E.A.D. Officer William Eccles, who also goes to all schools.

“Our police officers are the first line of defense at every school, and we make sure that they’re trained to respond appropriately,” Miller said. “We repeatedly conduct drills, and assess lockdown and evacuation procedures frequently.”

Other safety measures include the policy of keeping doors locked to prevent outsiders from entering the building and screening every visitor, according to the town. Enhanced “park and walk” patrols by police officers on duty seek to add another level of security outside the buildings.

To prevent any incidents, the SPD’s Planning and Intelligent Section also constantly monitors social media for threats and investigates any unusual activity or conversations promptly. According to the town, any threats are also shared with federal, state and counter-intelligence agencies to investigate.

Prepared for the worst

In case of a threat, officers, school staff, faculty and members of many departments are instructed to use skills acquired during specialized training exercises.

Recently, an Active Shooter Drill was conducted at Secaucus High School where school staff, faculty, and members of the Police, Fire, Emergency Management and Public Works learned tactics on how to respond to an emerging situation.

Procedures were re-evaluated and refined after evaluations of the Active Shooter Drill, according to the town. The Police Department also partnered with the Board of Education to digitally map each school to locate the presence of officers for a more direct response to “engage and neutralize any threat.”

Patrol cars are outfitted with enhanced weaponry in case there is an assailant in body armor. In addition, School Resource Officers Keegan and Eccles are certified for their roles; and a new certification on Threat Assessment completed by Lt. Elphick complements the Department’s preparedness, according to the town.

If the need ever arises, the police officers are directed to follow an “immediate response” strategy with the goal of “engaging and neutralizing the threat.” Mutual Aid partners and the SWAT teams in Hudson County are to be called upon if needed, according to the town.

Miller concluded: “As a parent myself, I understand the concerns parents may have in the light of the recent incident in Texas. But I want to assure them that our foremost goal is to prevent any incident, and we are fully prepared to keep our students, faculty and community safe.”

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].