Prosecutor investigating vice principal’s crash
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office is looking into an accident that occurred early one December morning when North Bergen High School Vice Principal Edward Somick flipped his Jeep into nearby parked car. He has said he was avoiding an accident.
“We didn’t investigate the accident, we have a different interest.” – Gaetano Gregory
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Gregory would not explain further.
WNY man again arrested on weapons charge
After being arrested and released on numerous weapons charges on Jan. 1, Joseph Puente, 20, of West New York surrendered to police because they had since learned that the bullets found in the vehicle he was driving were hollow-tipped.
Puente was apprehended after a police officer spotted him driving approximately 50 miles per hour in a 25 m.p.h. zone. After he stopped the black Land Rover, Puente claimed that he did not have the vehicle’s paperwork because it wasn’t his.
The vehicle allegedly contained 95,000 volt stun gun, a 9 mm handgun, a 3-inch knife, a double-sided 6-inch knife, two small bags of what appeared to be drugs, and two rounds of ammunition.
Cannella said that a sergeant didn’t realize the ammunition consisted of hollow-tip bullets, which were discovered later.
Police produced a warrant for Puente’s arrest. On Jan. 11 at approximately 4 a.m., Puente turned himself into the North Bergen Police with his attorney present. He was charged with having hollow-point ammunition.
While Puente was able to produce a bond for his original $50,000 bail, Judge Joseph Romano set his bail at $50,000 with no 10 percent option at the second hearing.
Cannella said that he was transported to the Hudson County Correction Facility while awaiting his arraignment.
Suspicious package winds up being makeup case
According to North Bergen Police, they helped assist the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday around 11 a.m. at 8701 Bergenline Ave. when a suspicious package was reported at a bus stop at that location.
Police notified the Jersey City Bomb Squad, whose K9 dog initially had a positive response to the “potential presence” of explosives. The area was cleared, and all schools in the area were placed on “lock down” before a robot was used to “disrupt” the package, police said.
Upon a further investigation, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office found that the package was a makeup case.
The event is currently under investigation by the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office.
DYFS worker allegedly attacked
According to Cannella, Justine Fox, 40, was arrested after allegedly attacking a Division of Youth and Family Services worker on Jan. 6 at 11 a.m.
DYFYS, the New Jersey’s child protection and child welfare agency, was called to the house to investigate a claim of “environment neglect,” said Cannella.
When the female worker knocked on the door, Fox allegedly yelled at her to get out, stating that she had “no right to be here.”
“She pulled the paperwork out of the DYFS worker’s hand and physically pushed the DYFS worker out of the doorway,” said Cannella.
Cannella said that the woman “almost” fell to the ground before calling 911.
Due to Fox working under the “function of her authority,” police charged Fox with aggravated assault. Fox was released on her own recognizance after posting a $2,500 bail.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.