Police Beat

Compiled by Ray Smith

Man in coma after stabbing; arrests made

A 46-year-old Jersey City man is in critical condition after a stab wound punctured his bowel and hit his right kidney on Monday night in downtown Hoboken.
Officers say they were flagged down at approximately 8 p.m. near Newark and Hudson streets and found a man who had suffered a stab wound one inch in width. After Jersey City Medical Center and Hoboken Volunteer Corp personnel arrived, the victim was transported to Jersey City Medical Center’s Trauma Center.
Police say the man suffered a single stab wound to the abdomen, just under his bottom rib.
On Monday night, the victim came out of surgery and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and is in a medically induced coma, according to police. An artificial airway was created for the victim.
During canvassing of the area, an officer found a silver ACE Exacto knife two feet from the victim, according to a report. The knife was collected by an officer.
A witness statement led police to Samuel Durant, 62, of Jersey City, who was standing nearby. A search of Durant produced a green-colored utility knife that was allegedly in his possession, according to police. Durant was arrested and charged with possession of weapons (illegal knife).
At some point in the investigation, an officer remembered a prior incident in which the victim in this incident was allegedly involved in stabbing another man. They conducted a citywide search for that man.
The man in question, Thomas A. Kaufeler, 54, of Hoboken, was arrested after police searched citywide and found him on Washington Street. He was in the company of another man, Donald Styles, 59, according to police. Both individuals were searched for weapons and police say they found Kaufeler allegedly in possession of a 7-inch screwdriver, and Styles allegedly in possession of a 7-inch paring knife and a 14-inch chef knife. Both men were arrested and charged with possession of weapons (illegal knives). No one has been charged with the actual stabbing or aggravated assault at this point. The investigation into those charges is open and ongoing.

$7K found in public housing, along with ‘Spiderman’ ecstasy

A 21-year-old Hoboken man was hit with eight drug-related charges on Nov. 8 after police executed a search warrant which they say yielded ecstasy, marijuana and narcotics paraphernalia in a Marshall Drive housing authority complex.
Stephen Rhone Jr. was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a Public Housing Complex, possession with intent to distribute marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school (Connors School), possession with intent to distribute ecstasy, possession of ecstasy within 500 feet of a public housing complex, possession with intent to distribute ecstasy within 500 feet of a school, maintaining a fortified premise in violation of law, and possession of narcotic paraphernalia with intent to distribute, according to police.
According to a police report, the police arrived at the address at 2 p.m. with a search warrant and announced their presence at the front door of the apartment. After no one answered the door and police heard a commotion inside, they used a battering ram and rabbit tool to conduct a forced entry, according to a police report.
Inside, police found five large plastic bags with eight smaller plastic bags commonly used to package and store marijuana, according to a police report. They also found a small, clear plastic bag containing green vegetation which they allege contained marijuana.
The police also found a large bag in a winter coat marked “Spiderman,” which contained 40 blue pills suspected to be ecstasy, along with $625 in smaller denomination bills, according to reports.
Police also said they found a plastic bag stamped with “Apple” in red ink, which contained multiple smaller clear plastic bags which police say are allegedly used to package and store marijuana.
A Port Authority Police Department K-9 unit was also involved in the search for the drugs.
The police also found, inside a jacket pocket, $7,258 broken down into smaller denominations.
Hoboken Housing Maintenance was notified and responded to fix and secure the apartment door after the search was conducted.
Other persons who were in the apartment during the search were released.

Alleged trespasser had more than 30 prior arrests

James Torres, 43, of Jersey City, was arrested and charged with defiant trespass by the newly established Hoboken Housing Authority police force on Thursday, Nov. 18. Police said that when they checked his background, they found more than 30 prior arrests.
On Nov. 18, during a police walkthrough, the officers discovered Torres allegedly attempting to gain access to the Jackson Street Housing Authority residential building.
After telling police that he lived in the Hoboken Housing Authority, the 43-year-old Jersey City resident was unable to produce an identification card. The Jersey City resident retracted his statement, saying that he was simply on his way to feed his friend’s cat while she was away, according to police.
Police informed the man that he was required to sign in with members of the police force, and he was charged with “defiant trespass.” During the process, police say they discovered Torres had three open warrants.
Torres was placed under arrest and transported to Police Headquarters. Police said that a background check turned up the prior arrests, as well as information that Torres may have had gang affiliations with the Latin Kings.

Spitting incident leads to altercation

On Sunday, Nov. 21, a Hoboken man was charged with simple assault after allegedly punching a man in the face at a new tavern.
The victim alleges that Jonathan Bernier, 27, of Hoboken, punched him in the face following an altercation which stemmed from an alleged spitting incident at the establishment.
The victim said that an unknown female walked by and allegedly spat on his jacket as well as some friends’ jackets, and walked toward the back of the bar and stood next to Bernier, according to police. When the victim approached the woman and questioned her behavior, Bernier allegedly punched the victim in the face, according to police. When police arrived, the victim picked out Bernier as the man who allegedly assaulted him.
Bernier was charged with simple assault at the police headquarters.

Mysterious note and bullet found in Pier A Park

A Newark man walking through Pier A park on the afternoon of Nov. 21 found something suspicious. Near the fountain area, the man discovered a gold bullet on the ground, according to police. As the man got closer, he picked it up and realized it was a real, live bullet with a note attached to it. The note read: “9/11 = INSIDE JOB” and had a link to a video on Google. The man decided to bring it to police headquarters. The bullet was a live 9 millimeter round for a Luger, an automatic pistol.
The bullet and note were placed into a property and evidence book, and the case is under investigation.

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