BAYONNE – A West 15th Street man has been apprehended for allegedly being involved in the shooting of another city resident this week in the city’s DiDomenico-16th Street Park, police officials announced Wednesday, April 29.
Steven A. Meleika, 25, of the 100 block of West 15th Street was taken into custody on Tuesday, April 28, by law enforcement officers in Orange County, Florida, to which he had fled, according to a statement issued by the Bayonne Police Department.
An 18-year-old East 15th Street man was shot in the back on April 26 at 5:06 p.m. Witnesses had said they had seen a black sport utility vehicle leaving the scene after at least three shots had been fired.
The investigation by the BPD’s Detective Bureau, directed by Capt. Robert Geisler and Sgt. Timothy Wilgus, identified Meleika as a suspect. After arrest warrants for attempted murder and weapons charges were issued for him on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 28, police went to Meleika’s residence on West 15th Street. He was not there, but police were able to determine that he had left for Florida via air travel.
While searching the residence, three “revolver-type” handguns, a small sword, a “dagger-type” weapon, and a bullet-proof vest were allegedly found and taken into evidence, according to the police statement. Also confiscated was a car parked outside the premises which allegedly matched the description of the shooter’s vehicle provided by multiple witnesses.
Working on the lead that Meleika had gone to a family member’s Florida house, Bayonne Police notified local authorities there about the Bayonne warrant issued, and Orange County Sheriff’s Department officers arrested Meleika.
At the time of his arrest, Meleika was allegedly in possession of an “Uzi-type” gun, for which he will face criminal charges in Florida, the police statement said. Once those local charges are adjudicated, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office will move for Meleika’s extradition back to New Jersey to face prosecution.
Meleika faces a number of charges when he returns, according to police. They include criminal attempted murder, aggravated assault, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, two counts of possessions of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and [possession of] prohibited weapons and devices.
Police said that Meleika has also been identified as a suspect in a prior incident, on March 25, when a male in a black SUV had fired shots into the air at the same location.
The April 26 shooting incident does not appear to be gang related, according to police.
Mayor James Davis, Public Safety Director Robert Kubert, and Acting Police Chief Drew Sisk all commended Capt. Geisler and Sgt. Wilgus. They also praised the work of Detectives Patrick O’Neill, Albert Roesinger, Andrew Quinn, Tami Parsley, Daniel Murphy, Thomas Hojnacki, Carmen Cutro, John Ballance, and Keith Striffiolino.
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