HOBOKEN — Over the last 20 years, mile-square Hoboken has achieved fame among young people as a great place to move after college. It’s close to New York, full of bars and restaurants, very walkable, and accessible by five forms of mass transit.
Now, one of Hoboken’s young is missing after a Saturday night with friends.
Friends say that Andrew Jarzyk, 27, originally from Hamilton (near Trenton), was with friends at the West Five Supper Club at Fifth and Madison streets on Saturday night and left about 1. He apparently lived only a block or two away, on Monroe Street. A source told the Hoboken Reporter (hudsonreporter.com) that he was seen by a neighbor on his fire escape, apparently having been locked out. Others reported that he changed in his apartment and went for a run (see link to prior story below).
In any case, he has not been seen since. Friends and relatives immediately mobilized and shared information on social media. As of Monday night, Jarzyk’s story has been shared more than 600 times on Facebook. Missing posters are all over Hoboken, and the New Jersey state police did an email blast Monday evening. Also, a story posted here on hudsonreporter.com early Monday received more than 100,000 web hits, the most of any breaking news item since the site went live more than 10 years ago. That story also received 10 comments as of Monday night. Click the link in this paragraph to read it.
Meanwhile, sources said that in an unrelated incident, a body was found in Hoboken on lower Bloomfield Street on Monday morning — definitely not Andrew Jarzyk, sources said, as the man is in a different age group. Police would not confirm the situation on Monday or give out information. The location was a block from the city’s homeless shelter.
Discussions on Hoboken Facebook page
Jarzyk’s residence is on the west side of town, away from the river, just two blocks from the hill up to Union City and Jersey City.
Various people have commented about the disappearance on the city’s Facebook page, saying there needs to be more of a police presence in that area, which is also near the Hoboken housing projects.
Others stepped in to defend the town. “You can’t just look at a few news stories and cast judgment on a city!! I’ve lived and worked there…it’s very safe! Btw….this is a search for a missing man, let’s keep on point!” wrote one poster.
News 12 reported Monday night, “A surveillance camera caught sight of Jarzyk running at the waterfront at around 2 a.m. It was the last time he was seen.” This information has not been confirmed by hudsonreporter.com.
If you have information, call the Hoboken Police Department immediately at 201-420-2100 (main line) or 201-420-2131 (police desk).