They Tried Silencing Their Eat Rutherford Victim, But Her Screams Led To Their Arrests: Cops
Three men who police say pointed a gun at a woman sitting in her car — prompting her to scream for help — and then pushed her to the ground and covered her mouth when she tried to scream again have been charged, authorities said.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella identified the suspects as Jamil N. Tuncer, 24, of Wallington; Jakub P. Lepianka, 23, of Passaic; and Michael A. Rodriguez, 27, of Passaic.
The incident happened Tuesday, July 8, at approximately 1:30 a.m., near Paterson Avenue and Clifton Avenue, Musella said. An officer on routine patrol when he heard a woman yelling for help…
Man Sucker Punches Stranger At Wallington 7-Eleven For 'Picking On Woman,' Cops Say
A Bergen County man is accused of assaulting a stranger and stealing his phone outside a 7-Eleven, authorities said.
On Sunday, Aug. 31, at approximately 10:57 p.m., Wallington Police Officers Peter Wojcik and Robert Ventura responded to the 7-Eleven at 358 Main Ave., in Wallington, for a report of an assault, Detective Szymon Popek said in a release.
A 36-year-old male victim told police that while waiting by the exit after buying coffee, another man — later identified as Derek Allen, 36 — punched him in the face with a closed fist, pushed him out the door, and threw him against a trash bi…
Watched On Camera, Wallington Duo Arrested In Drug, Stolen ID Bust: Cops
Two men were busted in Wallington after police say they were caught on borough surveillance cameras with drugs and stolen ID cards.
The arrests happened on Friday, July 18, when officers Wojcik and Officer Ventura, monitoring a corner camera, spotted two men acting suspiciously, Wallington Detective Lt. Joseph Rock said.
One of the men, Jeslin Martinez, was recognized from prior burglary cases. The second, Jakub Bartosik, was allegedly seen discarding drug paraphernalia into a bag, Rock said.
Police tracked Martinez to the 7-Eleven on Paterson Avenue, where he was arrested on a $1,50…
MVC 'Bodyguard' Davidson Cruz Of Wallington Dies Days Before 24th Birthday
Davidson Elian Cruz, a Wallington husband, father, and Motor Vehicle Commission employee, died on Friday, June 27, 2025, just three days before his 24th birthday, according to his obituary on the Alvarez Funeraria website.
He was born June 30, 2001, in the Dominican Republic, the obituary says.
Davidson worked for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) as a Safety Specialist at the Lodi Road Test Operations team since April 2022, according to a GoFundMe campaign which appears to have been launched by coworkers.
"Davidson made a lasting impact during his time with the Commission," th…
Clifton Man With Violent Past Threatens, Stalks Bergen Town's Rec Director: Police
A Clifton man with a violent criminal history was arrested after allegedly threatening a Bergen County recreation director, police said.
Ibrahem O. Elgebaly, 30, was taken into custody by Clifton police on Monday, June 16, on an active warrant out of East Rutherford, according to ERPD Capt. Jeff Yannacone.
Elgebaly is accused of sending threatening messages via Facebook, email, and phone to the East Rutherford Recreation Director, Yannacone said.
He was charged with terroristic threats, harassment, and stalking, and was taken to the Bergen County Jail, where he remains held.
According to …
NJ Native Killed After 100+ MPH Crash On Route 22 In Bethlehem: PA State Police
A 27-year-old man originally from Wallington, New Jersey, was killed when his car flew off Route 22 at over 100 mph and struck multiple trees, Pennsylvania State Police said.
David Puchala, of Youngstown, Ohio, was ejected from his car and died in the violent crash around 2:55 a.m. Saturday, June 15, along Route 22 East in Bethlehem Township, Northampton County, state police announced.
Puchala had been speeding in his Subaru Impreza—traveling over 100 mph in the left lane—when he swerved to avoid a car bumper lying in the roadway near mile marker 330.9, about a mile west of Route 191, accor…
Man With Phony License Plates Busted In Wallington: Police
A man was arrested in Wallington on Friday, April 11, while driving a car with a stolen license plate and giving police false information, authorities said.
At 10:30 a.m., a license plate reader alerted officers to a blue Hyundai Santa Cruz traveling east on Wallington Avenue, displaying a stolen license plate registered out of New York, Wallington police said.
During a traffic stop, the driver, Daniel Gatson, presented a driver’s license belong to an individual who had an active warrant in Virginia, police said.
Gatson was charged with receiving stolen property, exhibiting a false governm…
Close Call: Wallington Ticket Snags $17K as Pick-6 Jackpot Soars to $32M
The Pick-6 jackpot, New Jersey's longest-running lottery draw game, has climbed to an eye-popping $32 million after no player matched all six numbers in the Thursday, January 16 drawing.
One lucky player came close, however, matching five of the six winning numbers to win $17,128.
The winning ticket was sold at Food Mart, located at 168 Main Avenue in Wallington. The winning numbers were 12, 15, 19, 24, 34, and 44. No one hit the Double Play numbers of 04, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 43.
The next Pick-6 drawing will take place on Monday, Jan. 20, at 10:57 p.m., with a cash value of $14.…
Mailbox Thief Nearly Hits Officer In High-Speed Chase Through Bergen County Town, Police Say
A Westchester, NY man has been arrested for his role in a mailbox theft ring that plagued Bergen County for weeks, authorities said.
Edward Orozco, of Yonkers, was apprehended after a dramatic high-speed chase and a month-long investigation by the Wallington Police Department, Sgt. Brian Rosas said.
The theft ring, which targeted mailboxes in October, resulted in thousands of dollars in losses for residents after stolen checks were rewritten and repeatedly deposited, according to Rosas.
Wallington police launched an extensive investigation, identifying the suspect vehicle as a blue BMW M-S…
Paterson Burglar Apprehended In Wallington: Police
A 57-year-old Paterson resident who broke into a home in Wallington was arrested and charged on Thursday, Sept. 26, police said.
The first burglary occurred on Main Ave. on Thursday, Sept. 19, when the suspect, later identified as Leon Roberts, forcibly kicked in the front door of the home, Wallington police said in a release. While the homeowner did not report anything missing, the damage to the front door was $500, police said.
On Thursday, Sept. 26, police spotted Roberts in the City of Passaic, officers said. Roberts was wearing the same clothing from his break-in the previous wee…
Car Burglar Busted In Wallington After Trying To Flee On Bike: Police
A man was arrested in Wallington on the early morning of Monday, Sept. 23 after being wanted for multiple vehicle break-ins, authorities said.
At 4:54 a.m., officers were on patrol at Wallington Avenue and Lester Street when they observed a man, Rashon Johnson, who had been wanted for committed multiple motor vehicle burglaries in the region, Wallington police said.
Johnson's hat and bike matched a previous description provided to police, they said. Johnson was ordered to stop, but refused and pedaled on his bicycle at a high rate of speed, police said.
Johnson sped toward police, wh…
Man Busted Following Several Vehicle Burglaries: Wallington PD
A man was arrested and charged on Wednesday, July 24, after he carried out several vehicle break-ins in Wallington, authorities said.
At 2:35 a.m., police observed a man walking north on Main Avenue passing Stein Avenue, Wallington police said. The man, Jovan Feliciano, matched the description of a suspect involved in numerous vehicle burglaries in Wallington, police said.
Police confirmed the man was the suspect they were looking for and apprehended him, officers said. During an interview, Feliciano admitted to illegally entering multiple vehicles and stealing items for the past three mont…
'She Was A Survivor:' Loved Ones Mourn Loss Of Woman, 32, Killed By Train In Garfield
Tara Yannette was a survivor.
She was a two-time liver transplant recipient. She was nine months sober. The 32-year-old Wallington resident had a new boyfriend, Richard Black, and the two were in love.
Courtesy of Richard Black
But on Wednesday, July 3, Tara died by suicide, throwing herself in front of a train near the Plauderville Station in Garfield, behind her boyfriend's home, loved ones and NJ Transit officials tell Daily Voice.
"She was a beautiful girl and for whatever reason, something snapped in her mind," said Tara's mother, Cheryl Fedor. "I wish she would have reached ou…
Wallington Paramedic, 22, Killed In Crash Had 'Just Begun American Dream,' Obit Says
Services have been finalized for Marcin Bednarz, a 22-year-old paramedic from Bergen County who died in a New York crash on Sunday, April 28.
Marcin, a paramedic with the Wallington Fire Department, was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Arden Valley Road in Tuxedo, N.Y. at 3:18 p.m., according to a New York State Police report.
His obituary on the Warner-Wozniak Funeral Service website says he had "just begun his journey of his part of the American dream."
Marcin became an EMT in high school and graduated at the top of his class for paramedic school at Bergen Community College, his …
