Hidden hospice cam captures alleged abuse
After police were presented with video evidence that portrayed Julia Galvan, 59, of North Bergen, allegedly striking a patient she was supposed to be caring for, they arrested her on charges of elderly abuse and neglect and assault last week.
Commander of the Detective Bureau Lt. Frank Cannella said that on Feb. 23, the victim’s daughter went to police headquarters and told them that she believed her terminally ill mother had been abused physically while in hospice care at the Harborage, a nursing facility owned by Palisades Medical Center.
Her mother had been suffering from Alzheimer’s and was unable to move or speak after suffering a stroke two years ago.
“She discovered what appeared to be a nurse’s aide striking her mother in the head with her hand.” – Frank Cannella
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After her mother passed away, she reviewed the footage and, shocked with what she found, brought it to police, said Cannella.
“She discovered what appeared to be a nurse’s aide [allegedly] striking her mother in the head with her hand,” said Cannella, who said Galvan was later identified.
The incident occurred two days prior to the victim’s death, but police said they do not believe that Galvan was responsible. On the tape they observed Galvan allegedly striking the victim on the head several times and “abruptly” ripping her oxygen mask off.
Cannella said police notified the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit before having Galvan come into headquarters, where she allegedly confessed to the crimes.
She allegedly claimed “…she did what she did because she was extremely stressed out and depressed from losing her own mother,” said Cannella.
Galvan posted her $5,000 bail and was released.
Steroids lead back to personal trainer
After a pharmacy’s inventory check revealed unexplained orders of injectable steroids, the investigation led back to Romina Lozano, 25, of Guttenberg and Ahmed Attia, 36, of North Bergen, according to police.
Cannella said that on Jan. 19 police were notified by a pharmacy on 76th Street and Bergenline Avenue that they were missing documentation for injectable vials of testosterone, dating back to November.
Police reviewed footage of the store and found that Lozano was the clerk who allegedly placed the orders for testosterone. After being brought in for questioning, she allegedly admitted she ordered the medication for another individual she did not know. Attia was not seen paying Lozano.
Cannella said the investigation of video surveillance footage led to Attia, who was a previous customer of the pharmacy and is a personal trainer at a gym.
On March 9, Lozano and Attia were charged with obtaining prescription medication without a prescription and theft. Attia was charged with possession and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.
Attia’s bail was set at $10,000 with no ten percent, while Lozano’s bail was set at $2,500.
Machete found on NB man, again
Police arrested Ieissam Trujillo, 27, of North Bergen on weapons charges after they found him allegedly concealing a machete on his person, said Cannella.
On March 5 at 10 p.m., officers observed a male walking on 64th Street, pacing back and forth.
“He appeared to be walking with a limp, having difficulty walking, lifting his right leg to the side while walking,” said Cannella. “He was adjusting something deep into his pants past his right elbow.”
When police walked up to Trujillo and identified themselves as cops, they say they recovered a machete from his pants.
Trujillo has been arrested in the past for possessing a machete. Police believe him to be a known gang member.
He was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose before his bail was set at $50,000 with no bail bond option.
Adult, juveniles arrested in burglary
Whilmer Gomez, 18, of Guttenberg, along with a 13-year-old North Bergen male, and two males, 16 and 17 years old, from Guttenberg, were arrested for burglary and criminal mischief last week.
According to Cannella, the alleged incident was reported to police on Feb. 24 after a family came back from vacation to find several items of value were missing from the home. Their house had also been vandalized with “tags” written on the walls with spray paint. The victims told police that only their two young sons’ friends would know of the location of the missing items.
Police focused on certain people known to the family and arrested all of the juveniles on Feb. 28. The adult was charged on March 1 with employing a juvenile in commission of a crime.
He said that the four individuals allegedly entered the house numerous times while the family was away on vacation, taking their personal items and trading them with one another.
“Many items have not been recovered and for the most part, all parties are not cooperating with the Police Department at all,” Cannella said.
Gomez’s bail was set at $10,000 with a bail bond option.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.