Weehawken opens new police annex

July 7, 2022

07weeannex14 — The new conference room featured in the Weehawken Police Department annex in Tower Plaza Mall.

Weehawken has officially opened its new $700,000 police annex. Mayor Richard Turner, members of the Township Council, and other public officials cut the ribbon on Thursday, June 30.

“We are now dedicating our new police annex,” Turner said prior to cutting the ribbon on the facility. “We wish our police officers luck.”

The annex is located in the Tower Plaza Mall off of Park Avenue. It’s situated at the northern end of the indoor mall, next to the Lidl Supermarket.

The new annex aims to allow the approximately 57-member Police Department to function more efficiently. Things were getting cramped at the Police Headquarters at Town Hall, leading to the township expanding to a new location to increase functionality.

“We have obviously outgrown our police facilities in Town Hall,” Turner said.

While there are only two female officers on the force in Weehawken, the township sought to provide locker rooms for the women. The current headquarters at Town Hall did not have such accommodations.

“We wanted to have proper facilities for the female police officers,” Turner said.

Additionally, Turner touted the centralized location of the facility.

“This is in the center of town,” Turner said. “By being in the center of town, it covers more area around and makes it less back and forth for police officers. It’s a perfect location and a modern facility, that provides for the needs of the police department.”

Turner then took out a list of people he needed to thank for making the annex a reality, which included a slew of people who contributed to every aspect of the annex. He thanked Township Manager Gio Ahmed and Public Safety Director Jeff Welz among others.

“There’s a lot of people that worked hard on this,” Turner said.

Features of the new annex include several offices, a conference room, lockerrooms, an equipment room, and an IT room, as well as accompanying furniture and technology. The facility was financed through township bonds, capital improvement funds, and other monies.

“It’s a new day for the police department,” Turner said. “It’s a great facility, and we look forward to having a great presence here at the Tower Plaza Mall.”

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

Union City men plead guilty to running ‘Grandparent Scam’

Hudson Reporter

July 7, 2022

07ucscam14 — Rhode Island seniors were scammed out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Appearing before a federal judge in Providence, Rhode Island, three individuals have admitted that they participated in a “Grandparent Scam” that defrauded fourteen Rhode Island seniors out of a total of more than $350,000, announced U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island Zachary A. Cunha.

22-year-old Bryan Valdez-Espinosa of Union City, 22-year-old Diego A. Alarcon of Union City, and Jason Hatcher, a 40-year-old of New York City, admitted that in June 2021, they traveled to New England to participate in the scam.

Hatcher pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft; Alarcon and Valdez-Espinosa each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The victims, who ranged from seventy-nine to ninety-four years of age, were contacted by telephone by callers impersonating family members or attorneys. These callers falsely told the victims that a loved one, generally a grandchild, had been arrested after being involved in a motor vehicle accident, and needed cash bail.

The victims were directed to gather cash for these fake bail payments, and told to provide the money to a courier that would be sent to their home.

“Few things are more frightening than thinking a family member is in trouble,” said Cunha. “These defendants exploited that fear to steal from loving grandparents and line their own pockets. Thanks to superb investigative work by our local law enforcement partners and the Department of Homeland Security, I am pleased that, with today’s guilty pleas, each of these defendants will answer for their fraud.”

“These three took advantage of a grandparent’s love for a grandchild to fleece them of their hard-earned money,” said Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations New England Field Office. “They caused the victims to believe a loved one was in legal trouble or in danger, using fear as a weapon to turn a profit. HSI works every day alongside our partners to uncover scams like this one to help keep our seniors safe.”

According to court documents and information presented to the court, victims were scammed out of a total of $350,815. In at least one instance, a family member intervened leading to the arrest of Valdez-Espinosa who was posing as a courier. Scammers defrauded the victims out of between $9,500 and $85,000.

Valdez-Espinosa, Alarcon, and Hatcher will be sentenced on October 11. 2022. Their sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William J. Ferland and Christine D. Lowell. The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.

United States Attorney Cunha thanks the Barrington, Cranston, Coventry, Cumberland, East Providence, Hopkinton, Johnston, North Kingstown, Smithfield, and Warwick Police Departments for their investigative assistance and assistance provide residents in their community victimized by this scam.

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

Jersey City Ward Commission defends its controversial map

Hudson Reporter

July 6, 2022

John Minella was the chairman of the Jersey City Ward Commission and is also Mayor Steven Fulop's Chief of Staff. Photo by Mark Koosau.

In a brief that includes quotes from “Macbeth” and claims that the plaintiffs are “hoodwinking this court and using this proceeding to grab headlines[sic]”, the creators of Jersey City’s controversial ward map are digging in and defending it against a lawsuit seeking to overturn it.

The Jersey City Ward Commission, which was in charge of drawing the boundaries of the city’s six wards following the 2020 Census, are seeking dismissal of the lawsuit in Hudson County Superior Court back in March brought against them by a coalition of community groups and Councilman Frank Gilmore.

The commission includes six members from the Hudson County Board of Elections and City Clerk Sean Gallagher. The six members from the Board of Elections include John Minella, the chairman of the commission and also Mayor Steven Fulop’s Chief of Staff, Janet Lawra, Peter Horton, Daniel Miqueli, Daniel Beckelman, and Paul Castelli.

The lawsuit argues that the map, which was adopted by the commission despite public outcry, violated state law and the state Constitution, and that it was political retaliation against Gilmore, who had unseated an incumbent backed by Mayor Fulop in the 2021 city elections.

The commission is being represented in court by Jason Orlando and John Bartlett from Murphy Orlando LLC, a politically-connected law firm that was appointed to represent them following a resolution agreement by the City Council back in May.

The firm is run by Michael Murphy, a former Morris County Prosecutor and former Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 1997. Orlando is a former deputy attorney general for New Jersey, and Bartlett is also currently a Passaic County Commissioner.

In many instances in the motion to dismiss, Orlando argued that the courts should not get involved in the case due to a recent decision regarding New Jersey’s congressional redistricting.

Back in December of last year, the New Jersey Redistricting Commission had enacted a congressional map drawn by Democrats that helped shore up the reelection chances of multiple House Democrats seen at risk. Republicans on the commission had sued to overturn the map, but the state Supreme Court dismissed their lawsuit and kept the map in place.

The justices said at the time that the courts cannot intervene in redistricting unless a map is unlawful, to which Orlando writes that the plaintiff’s complaint “brings to mind Macbeth’s utterance after he learns of Lady Macbeth’s death: ‘full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.’”

“Plaintiffs reveal the essence of their misbegotten lawsuit[…]when they ask this court to pursue the very exercise our Supreme Court has repeatedly refused to undertake: to compare and contrast plaintiffs’ purported map with the Ward Commission’s duly authorized and statutorily required map, and to choose plaintiffs’ map instead,” he wrote.

Orlando claims that the plaintiffs are asking the courts to implement a map that they created, although the plaintiffs had said in their lawsuit that they want the courts to order the commission redraw the map to comply with state law and the state Constitution.

The plaintiff map that Orlando refers to, which was provided in the initial lawsuit, was drawn to demonstrate that the commission “could have redrawn the wards” on multiple counts, including being compact and having “better” population deviation, not “significantly” split areas of interest and be more “respectful” to natural boundaries and topography.

Orlando continues to argue that the commission didn’t violate the state Constitution’s Equal Protection clause and freedom of speech, that they did not violate the Open Public Meeting Act, and that they did not violate Gilmore’s civil rights.

The Hudson County Superior Court is scheduled to hear on the defendants’ motion to dismiss on July 22.

For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at mkoosau@hudsonreporter.com or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.

Security measures reviewed at Secaucus schools in wake of Uvalde shooting

Hudson Reporter

July 6, 2022

07secsecurity14-01 — Secaucus police conduct a quarterly active shooter drill. Photos courtesy of the SPD.

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.”

The SPD has a three-pronged approach to school safety.

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.”

Officers practice their response to an active shooter situation regularly,

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 disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

Authorities investigating July 4 police-involved shooting in Union City

Hudson Reporter

July 6, 2022

07ucshooting14 — Image of a Union City police vehicle, courtesy of the UCPD.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Shooting Response Team is investigating a police involved shooting that occurred on July 4 in Union City, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced.

According to a preliminary investigation, at approximately 7:49 p.m., uniformed officers of the Union City Police Department were flagged down in the area of 23rd Street and Bergenline Avenue on reports of a stabbing incident.

Responding officers located the suspect nearby. The suspect was later identified as Jesus Suazo, a 58-year-old of Union City.

During the encounter, a uniformed officer fired his weapon, striking Suazo. A knife was recovered near him, authorities say.

Suazo was transported to a local hospital, where he remains in stable condition. In relation to the initial incident, one male civilian sustained non-fatal injuries.

Suazo has been charged with: Aggravated Assault, a crime of the second degree; Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, a crime of the third degree; and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, a crime of the fourth degree.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Shooting Response Team and Public Integrity Unit immediately notified the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General of the use of force by police, pursuant to Attorney General Directive 2019-4.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has been designated the independent investigator for this officer involved shooting and is investigating the incident in accordance with guidelines set forth by the NJOAG.

The investigation in this matter, including the use of force by police, remains active and ongoing. At this time, further information will not be released so as not to jeopardize the investigation in progress.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor’s official website at: hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip.

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

Mayor Richard Turner and Weehawken Township Council sworn in

Hudson Reporter

July 5, 2022

07nhinauguration14-01 — Mayor Richard Turner was sworn in for his ninth term on July 1, 2022.

In Weehawken, returning Mayor Richard Turner and the Township Council were sworn in on Friday, July 1. The township held a variety of events in the lead up to the inauguration, from concerts to other festivities.

Turner enters his ninth term, making him the longest serving mayor in Hudson County. He was first elected in 1990, and currently also serves as the state director for outgoing Rep. Albio Sires, who represents the 8th Congressional District encompassing much of Hudson County.

Joining Turner on the council is First Ward Councilwoman Carmela Silvestri-Ehret, Second Ward Councilwoman Rosemary Lavagnino, Third Ward Councilman Robert Sosa, and Councilman At-Large David Curtis. Turner and the council incumbents ran unopposed in the recent election.

Officials reappointed

Turner, an At-Large Councilman, was re-elected mayor by the council, par the course for Weehawken’s type of mayor and council government. This time around, Silvestri-Ehret was elected Deputy Mayor taking over from Lavagnino.

Turner was sworn in by Hudson County Commissioner Caridad Rodriguez, who represents West New York, Weehawken and Guttenberg. The incumbent Weehawken mayor and the council were joined by their friends and family for the formalities, whose support Turner noted was essential to carry the burden of being an elected official.

Turner and Sosa also light-heartedly bickered over who was the longer serving public official, with Sosa having served on and off on the council since the 1970s. However, he passed a literal baton to Turner, signifying he was conceding Turner was the longest serving public official in Weehawken.

“We look forward to a great four years,” Turner said, first thanking municipal employees for their efforts under his administration. He touted that he has kept the “small town-feel” of Weehawken despite redevelopment of the waterfront, and praised his COVID-19 response.

What’s next for Weehawken?

At the swearing-in, Turner also outlined what’s next for Weehawken in his upcoming term. He echoed much of what had previously told the Hudson Reporter after his unopposed victory in the May 10 non-partisan municipal election, touting a number of projects that will move forward soon.

“We’re going to move forward on fixing Park Avenue,” Turner said. “We’re going to move forward on completing our waterfront park. We have electric charging stations coming – we’re gonna be working on where to put them… We have two hybrid police cars, obviously we’ll save on gas, and we have an electric police car… You wouldn’t have a better administration than these council people: honest, no agendas, they’re only agenda is doing their best for the public.”

Gio Ahmed was also reappointed as Township Manager; Rola Fares was reappointed as Township Clerk; Richard Venino was reappointed as Township Attorney. Officials in attendance of the ceremony included West New York Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez and North Bergen Commissioner Julio Marenco.

After the swearing in, Weehawken and You held a fundraiser in Paramus. Hosted in conjunction with the township, the proceeds raised will go to various entities including to the township’s school district.

Bayonne and Union City mayors sworn in again too

The hour-long ceremony was brief in comparison to the lavish gathering in Bayonne. However, the Weehawken ceremony outshined that of Union City.

In Union City, State Senator and Mayor Brian Stack did not hold a swearing-in ceremony. Like Turner, Stack and his slate of incumbent Board of Commissioners ran unopposed in the 2022 non-partisan municipal election. Stack, who has been in office since 2000, now enters his sixth term as mayor of Union City.

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

Man charged with multiple sex crimes at Union City pool

Hudson Reporter

July 5, 2022

07ucassault14 — Ashokbhai Vaddoriya, image via Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.

On Sunday, July 3, members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested Ashokbhai Vaddoriya, a 40-year-old of Jersey City, on charges relating to sex crimes on four individuals at a public pool in Union City, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has announced.

The alleged victims include: a 12-year-old girl, an 11-year-old girl, a 33-year-old woman, and a 34-year-old woman. Authorities say these victims were not known to Vaddoriya.

Vaddoriya is charged with: two counts of Sexual Assault by Contact, crimes of the second degree; two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, crimes of the third degree; and two counts of Criminal Sexual Contact, crimes of the fourth degree.

Vaddoriya was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Jersey City. He was transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending his first court appearance.

The state has filed a detention motion. A hearing on that is tentatively scheduled to be heard on Friday, July 8.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Special Victims Unit and Union City Police Department with the investigation and arrest. Anyone wishing to report a sex crime should call the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) at 201-915-1234.

The above charges are merely accusations. The defendant is 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 disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

Jersey City school business administrator sues claiming work discrimination

Hudson Reporter

July 1, 2022

07jclawsuit14_1 — Regina Robinson notably had her contract with the school district not renewed back in April. Screenshot via Screenshot via The School District of Jersey City on Facebook.

The Jersey City school business administrator is suing the top leadership in the Jersey City school district, alleging that she was discriminated against because of her sex and race during her tenure and that the leadership broke state law while doing so.

School Business Administrator Regina Robinson filed a lawsuit alongside her husband Charles Harris in Hudson County Superior Court yesterday, listing now-permanent Superintendent Dr. Norma Fernandez, Human Resources Director Edwin Rivera, and all of the Board of Education minus Board President Gerald Lyons as defendants.

The lawsuit alleges that Robinson was the victim of an “unlawful employment culture” that returned after the state of New Jersey returned local control of the Board of Education, and that Robinson, who is Black, was discriminated against racially and sexually compared to her predecessor, Luigi Campana, who is Latino.

Among the number of occasions that Robinson alleges she was retaliated against includes filing an internal Human Resources/Affirmative Action complaint based on her inequitable pay, and multiple occasions when she complained that she was unable to fill or post positions required for the Business Office.

Other alleged retaliations were for when she wrote about “improper, board and administration sanctioned practice” of selling sick days to non-retiring employees, and that she was excluded from discussions regarding staffing her own department as retaliation.

It also alleges that Rivera had intentionally interfered and undermined her with the leadership of the Jersey City Education Association teacher’s union via discriminatory motives, “improperly preferring Latino candidates and employees over Black candidates and employees,” and that Fernandez had “consistently” displayed hostility towards her.

The lawsuit accuses the defendants of violating the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, including by discriminating based on her race and sex, retaliating for protected activity and creating and maintaining “a severe and pervasive” hostile work environment.

It also states alleged retaliation against constitutionally protected whistle blowing activity for which the defendants violated the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act, and that the relation caused Harris to suffer from “loss of consortium, society, affection assistance, and conjugal following, all the determinant of their marital relationship.”

Robinson notably saw her contract not renewed after the Board of Education voted it down back in April, while also at the same time approving salary raises for Dr. Fernandez and other top staff members. Her contract was set to expire today on July 1.

“[Robinson] has never been formally reviewed by the district, so she has never been criticized and her performance has never been criticized,” said Stephen J. Edelstein of Weiner Law Group, who’s representing Robinson and Harris in the lawsuit.

“But she has been harassed repeatedly, discriminated against repeatedly, retaliated against repeatedly, because she is a Black female,” he continued. “I believe we will be able to prove something that was done to her and probably to other Black females as well, by this particular administration and board.”

The Jersey Journal also reported that a number of female African American employees such as Human Resources Assistant Director Sabrina Harrold had alleged discrimination. Harrold also had her contract not renewed in April.

Dr. Fernandez and Lyons did not respond for comment on the lawsuit.

For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at mkoosau@hudsonreporter.com or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.

Dr. Norma Fernandez permanently appointed as Jersey City school superintendent

Hudson Reporter

July 1, 2022

07jcfernandez14_1 — Dr. Norma Fernandez had been superintendent in an interim role since January. Screenshot via The School District of Jersey City on Facebook.

Jersey City Interim Superintendent Dr. Norma Fernandez was appointed by the Board of Education on Thursday night to serve as permanent superintendent of the Jersey City Public School district, capping off a six month interim role that will elevate her to oversee the second largest school district in New Jersey.

“I’m speechless,” she said after the board appointed her to applause. “I thought I would not be, but I am. I thank the board trustees for believing in me, and I believe that our schools can be a joyful place and an exciting place where our administrative team can work together to continue to bring progress to our students and continue to do what’s best for children.”

Dr. Fernandez has been with the school district for nearly 40 years, having worked her way from a bilingual teacher up to being Deputy Superintendent by the end of 2021. In January, she became the interim superintendent following the retirement of former Superintendent Frank Walker at the end of last year.

During the six months of her interim tenure, Dr. Fernandez notably oversaw the passage of the school district’s $973 million school budget, and will now look to lead the school district as they head into the next school year.

The school board had approved a resolution around the same time of her interim appointment to conduct a national search for a new superintendent, but the district has decided to settle for their current leader in a permanent role.

Dr. Fernandez also had the support of Ron Greco, the president of the Jersey City Education Association teacher’s union. Greco had supported her to become an interim back in December, as well as for a permanent role in March.

“You don’t have to have all the degrees in the world to have common sense, and many people that do have a lot of book knowledge are as dense as this podium,” he said.

“But Dr. Fernandez is worldly, she’s streetwise, she has street cred as our children say in Jersey City,” he continued. “She knows these schools, she knows the children, she knows the community, and common sense is something you can wish for in a superintendent, and someone that will work with people.”

The board voted 8-0-1 to approve a three year contract starting today and will last until June 30, 2025, with Trustee Paula Jones-Watson being the only abstain as she has family members that work in the school district.

Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said that Dr. Fernandez’s “final-hour appointment made the night before the July 1 deadline leaves little room for residents and parents of Jersey City students to weigh in on a decision that drastically affects the leadership of our entire school system.”

“With that, Mayor [Steven] Fulop remains committed to maintaining a working relationship with school leadership to ensure the students and their educations remain top priority,” she continued.

For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at mkoosau@hudsonreporter.com or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.

U.S. Customs busts Union City man with 13 cocaine bricks in wheelchair

Hudson Reporter

July 1, 2022

07ucwheelchair14-01 — The man was returning from the Dominican Republic in a wheelchair when authorities searched the cushion. Photos by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

A Hudson County man gambled on being a high roller, but his attempt was just a bad bet. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers called his bluff and discovered more than 30 pounds of cocaine concealed inside his electric wheelchair at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshal Airport on June 20.

Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Police officers arrested Gabriel Ruiz, a 34-year-old of Union City, on state felony narcotics importation and possession charges on June 21. The State’s Attorney in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, is prosecuting Ruiz.

CBP officers referred Ruiz to a secondary examination after he arrived from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. During that secondary examination, officers x-rayed his Jazzy 614 electric wheelchair and detected anomalies within the seat and back cushions.

Officers probed the cushions and extracted 13 plastic-wrapped bricks that contained a white powdery substance. CBP officers used field test kits and a handheld elemental isotope analysis tool and identified the powdery substance as cocaine.

The 13 cocaine bricks weighed a combined 13.7 kilograms, or 30 pounds and three ounces. The cocaine has an estimated street value of nearly $1 million. CBP officers turned Ruiz and the cocaine over to MDTA Police officers.

Thirteen cocaine bricks were recovered in total.

The criminal charges are merely allegations. The defendant are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Interestingly, CBP officers in Charlotte, N.C., also discovered 23 pounds of cocaine concealed inside of a wheelchair on May 31. Both the Baltimore and Charlotte travelers arrived from the Dominican Republic.

“Concealing dangerous drugs inside wheelchair seat cushions is unusual,” said Thomas Heffernan, Acting Area Port Director for CBP’s Area Port of Baltimore. “Transnational criminal organizations work very hard to conceal their illicit drugs, but this cocaine seizure proves once again that Customs and Border Protection officers are up to the task of protecting our communities by finding the drug gangs’ creatively concealed contraband.”

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

1...697071...105 Page 70 of 105

Weehawken opens new police annex

Union City men plead guilty to running ‘Grandparent Scam’

Jersey City Ward Commission defends its controversial map

Security measures reviewed at Secaucus schools in wake of Uvalde shooting

Authorities investigating July 4 police-involved shooting in Union City

Mayor Richard Turner and Weehawken Township Council sworn in

Man charged with multiple sex crimes at Union City pool

Jersey City school business administrator sues claiming work discrimination

Dr. Norma Fernandez permanently appointed as Jersey City school superintendent

U.S. Customs busts Union City man with 13 cocaine bricks in wheelchair

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