8 CHARGED IN ROBBERY OF BANK WORKER

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Friday, June 28, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | Four Star B | NEWS | Page B03

Police have arrested eight men for Monday’s assault and robbery of a bank messenger, who was pulled from his car and beaten as he waited at a red light.
Raymond Ayala, a messenger for the Trust Company of New Jersey, was in his 1984 Dodge waiting at 70th Street and Tonnelle Avenue when he was pulled from the car by three men who then assaulted him. The men got away with $12,000 in cash and $4,000 in checks that Ayala had just picked up from a business, Police Chief Angelo Busacco said.
The three who attacked Ayala, 35, of Jersey City, along with the driver of the getaway car were charged with robbery and aggravated assault, Busacco said. The other four helped plan the crime and were charged with conspiracy, the chief said.
“The victim, he took a pretty bad beating,” Busacco said. “He has a fractured eye socket, a broken nose, and a broken jaw. He was fairly bruised about the entire body.”
Ayala was taken to Palisades General Hospital on Monday and was discharged Thursday, a hospital spokesman said.
Charged with robbery and assault were Sergio Ariz of 7200 Grand Ave., North Bergen, who was released on $5,000 cash bail; Alan Amador of 6223 Liberty Ave., North Bergen, who posted 10 percent of $5,000 bail; Gary Bohanan, 22, of 6 River St., Little Ferry, and Christopher Camacho, 20, of 7521 Bergenline Ave., North Bergen, who each posted 10 percent of $2,500 bail.
Charged with conspiracy and posting 10 percent of their $2,500 bail were Michael Tomicich, 18, of 335 71st St., Guttenberg; Joseph Lalicata, 32, of 6601 Cottage Ave., North Bergen; Richard Zedower, 18, of 7108 Cottage Ave., North Bergen, and Joseph Occhipinti, 23, of 6024 Newkirk Ave., North Bergen.
Bohanan, Camacho, Lalicata, and Amador turned themselves in at headquarters; the other four were arrested at home or at work, the chief said.
Bohanan and Camacho appeared in court Wednesday. The others are scheduled to appear July 3, Busacco said.
For security reasons, Busacco declined to say how many men were involved in the investigation. He said key officers in the case were Lt. Timothy Kelly, Lt. Robert Heldman, Sgt. Joseph Bode, Detective Joseph Gener, and Detective James Onderdonk.

Keywords: NORTH BERGEN; ROBBERY; ASSAULT

MAN HELD IN SUPERMARKET STABBING OF ESTRANGED WIFE

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Tuesday, June 4, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | Four Star B | NEWS | Page B02

A 31-year-old West New York man was being held Monday in Hudson County Jail on charges that he stabbed and critically wounded his estranged wife several times at the ShopRite supermarket, police said.
Police Lt. Mark Cerbo said he and three other officers, responding to a report of a stabbing at the Kennedy Boulevard supermarket Sunday, arrested Rafael Llaverias as he was running through the parking lot.
“He had blood all over his pants,” Cerbo said.
Inside the store, Yohanny Llaverias of Union City was sprawled on the floor, bleeding from stab wounds all over her body. The serrated kitchen knife that police believed was used in the stabbing was lying next to her, Cerbo said. The knife was broken in half.
The 21-year-old woman was in critical condition in Jersey City Medical Center’s surgical intensive care unit, a hospital spokeswoman said Monday.
Lt. Timothy Kelly said Yohanny Llaverias had restraining orders barring her husband from contacting her.
Rafael Llaverias was being held in Hudson County Jail without bail on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon, and violation of a restraining order.

Keywords: NORTH BERGEN; ASSAULT

SUSPECT HELD IN ASSAULT ON FAMILY IN FORT LEE

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Wednesday, April 24, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | One Star | NEWS | Page B03

A 22-year-old Bronx man was being held on $250,000 bail Tuesday on charges that he was one of five men who assaulted a borough family during a robbery about seven months ago, police said.
Tri Minh Le was arraigned in Fort Lee Municipal Court on Tuesday on charges of burglary, robbery, and kidnapping, and was being held in the Bergen County Jail, Fort Lee Police Chief John Orso said.
The victims, whom Orso declined to identify because other suspects have not been arrested, saw Tri Minh Le’s face when he took off his mask during the attack, Orso said. The victims identified him in a police picture line-up, Orso said.
He said the suspects broke into the single-family home about 2 a.m. on Sept. 15 and menaced the family an Asian couple in their 50s and their teenage children. The man was beaten and required about 100 stitches on his face, Orso said. The wife also was beaten.
A breakthrough occurred in the case when Fort Lee Detective John Wemken recognized Tri Minh Le on a New York City television newscast of an arrest in February, Orso said.
Tri Minh Le was arrested Feb. 2 on automobile theft charges, but was released the following day for insufficient evidence, a spokeswoman for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said. With the cooperation of New York City police and the suspect’s consent, he was transferred to Fort Lee on Monday, Orso said.
Orso said gangs have been targeting Asians in Fort Lee and other Bergen County communities. Victims have been reticent about reporting the incidents to police. Orso has asked Asians to contact police if they are being intimidated by gangs or if money is being extorted from them.
Orso said he is trying to reach out to Chinese, Japanese, and Korean organizations in the area to see how police can gain their trust.
“They are not coming forward when something happens to them,” Orso said. “By helping us, they are helping themselves. They should not be afraid. We’ll give them all the police protection they need. But we can’t help them if they don’t come forward.”

Keywords: FORT LEE; ASSAULT; FAMILY

2 TEENS STABBED, BABY ABDUCTED EX-BOYFRIEND OF A VICTIM HELD

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Thursday, April 18, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | One Star | NEWS | Page B01

A 19-year-old Brooklyn man was arrested Wednesday minutes after he stabbed two teenagers, one of them his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend, and abducted his and the girl’s baby from a North Bergen apartment, police said.
One victim, a 17-year-old Brooklyn boy, was in serious but stable condition at Palisades General Hospital in North Bergen, a spokesman said. The girl was not seriously injured, police said, but was to be kept overnight at the hospital for observation. Police withheld the victims names because of their ages.
The 2-month-old baby was unharmed.
The suspect, Courtney Wiltshire, was held on $15,000 bail in the Hudson County Jail, North Bergen Lt. Timothy Kelly said.
Police had not yet interviewed the victims late Wednesday, but said it appeared Wiltshire attacked them at a Durham Avenue apartment where the girl lives with her mother and the baby. Police would not comment Wednesday on the motive for the attack.
Police were alerted to the incident by phone calls from the two victims, said Kelly, who gave the following account:
The 17-year-old called about 11:30 a.m., saying he had been stabbed. A few minutes later, after Wiltshire had left, the 16-year-old girl called from the apartment. She, too, said she had been stabbed, and that the father of her daughter had forcibly taken the child.
Officer Michael Darin found the 17-year-old at a pay phone at 67th Street and Newkirk Avenue. He had been stabbed twice in the chest, once in the shoulder, and once in the back.
A search began for Wiltshire that eventually involved 13 squad cars, including four from West New York.
North Bergen Officer Lorenzo Paret spotted Wiltshire about 11:50 a.m. at 65th Street and Hudson Avenue in West New York. When Paret approached him and began asking him questions, Wiltshire threw up his hands and said: “I know what you want. The baby is in the store. “
Wiltshire had gone into the Latino Supermarket with the baby and bought some juice, telling the storekeeper to watch the infant for a moment.
The baby was found in the store and placed in the custody of the state Division of Youth and Family Services after being examined at Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center in Secaucus.
Wiltshire was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, burglary, unlawful possession of a weapon, and criminal restraint.

Keywords: NORTH BERGEN; ASSAULT; KIDNAPPING; BABY

TEACHER CHARGED WITH ASSAULT ON GIRL, 13; OTHER DUMONT STUDENTS MAY BE INVOLVED

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Sunday, April 7, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | All Editions | NEWS | Page A03

A math and science teacher at the Selzer School for the past 21 years was charged Saturday with aggravated sexual assault on a 13-year-old student, officials said.
James J. Walls, 48, was arrested about 2 p.m. Saturday at his home at 88 Pine St., Haworth, said Bergen County Prosecutor John J. Fahy. Walls was to be held in the Bergen County Jail on $25,000 bail, he said.
It could not be determined Saturday what action school officials would take.
Between Dec. 15, 1989, and June 22, 1990, Walls committed “numerous acts of aggravated sexual assault” on the girl by touching her breasts and buttocks during school hours, Fahy said.
Fahy said the girl graduated from the kindergarten-to-eighth-grade school in June 1990, but that she told a school counselor about the assault only a few days ago. The counselor informed authorities, he said. The Dumont Police Department and the Bergen County Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit investigated the charge, he said.
Fahy said that when the case goes to a grand jury, Walls would be charged with aggravated sexual assault for each time he allegedly touched the girl.
“As of right now, the investigation is continuing,” Fahy said. “It’s possible other kids were involved. He’s only charged with sexual assault on the one girl. “
If convicted, Walls could face 20 years in prison and fines of up to $100,000, Fahy said.
Dumont Schools Superintendent Thomas Roberts and Selzer School Principal James Kennedy were not at home Saturday and could not be reached. No members of the school board could be reached Saturday.
Lee Brauer, director of public relations for the Dumont school district, said she was not aware of the charges against Walls or of his arrest. She said she did not have the telephone numbers of any school official with her at home.
Fahy said school officials, including the principal, were aware of the investigation, but did not know if they had heard about the arrest.
Dumont Mayor James Moriarty said he was hearing of the charges for the first time.
“This is a shock. I really don’t have a comment at this time,” he said.

Keywords: TEACHER; ASSAULT; YOUTH; SCHOOL; SEX; DUMONT; STUDENT

Notes: Bergen page version

MAN ACCUSED OF MAKING THREATS

MICHAEL O. ALLEN | Thursday, February 14, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | Four Star B | NEWS | Page B04

Police charged a 33-year-old Carlstadt man with making terroristic threats after taking a butcher knife away from him and arresting him Tuesday at the home of a Center Avenue resident.
Fhahram Zarrabi of 612 Division Ave. threatened to kill two borough residents because they owed him $18,000 for work he did for them, said Fort Lee Police Chief John Orso. After his arrest, Zarrabi was released on $500 bail.

Keywords: FORT LEE; ASSAULT; WEAPON

ANOTHER ASSAULT SUSPECT ARRESTED; ENGLEWOOD PROBES STRING OF MUGGINGS

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Friday, February 1, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | Four Star B | NEWS | Page B03

Police arrested a 24-year-old city resident Wednesday after a tip that he was one of three men who mugged an elderly man walking home from a bus stop on Cambridge Avenue last month.
Christian Darren Giles of 24 W. Forest Ave. was being held in Bergen County Jail Thursday on $10,000 bail on charges of attempted robbery and aggravated assault.
Giles was arrested Wednesday after police received information that he was one of those who mugged a 62-year-old man about 6:45 p.m. Jan. 17, said Englewood Detective Capt. C. Kenneth Tinsley.
The victim, whom Tinsley declined to identify, was knocked to the ground from behind after passing three men on Cambridge, Tinsley said. The attackers fled when someone approached in a car, he said.
Giles was arrested Wednesday night behind a building on Armory Street by Detectives Robert Keane, Edward Murray, and Joseph Martin.
Tinsley said his office also is investigating whether Giles is connected to two suspects in the robbery of a fast-food deliveryman Sunday night, and whether Giles and those suspects are connected to 12 other assaults that occurred during the past three weeks.
Malik McKinnon, 20, of 210 First St., Englewood, was being held in Bergen County Jail on $10,000 bail on a charge that he robbed the deliveryman of about $100. McKinnon turned himself in Monday after the victim gave police the description of a juvenile who allegedly participated in the robbery. The juvenile was released to the custody of his parent.
“We haven’t linked him to the two suspects but we are still investigating,” Tinsley said of Giles.
Giles was paroled a month ago after serving one year of a three-year sentence for robbery and aggravated assault of a police officer. He has two other convictions for similar offenses, police records show.

Keywords: ENGLEWOOD; ASSAULT

ASSAULT PROBE LOOKS AT PAIR; ENGLEWOOD MAN, TEEN ARE SUSPECTS

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Wednesday, January 30, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | Four Star B | NEWS | Page B03

A 20-year-old city man and a 16-year-old accomplice who have been charged with robbery are being investigated in connection with 12 other assaults in the past two weeks, police said.
Malik McKinnon of 210 First St. was being held Tuesday on $10,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail. The juvenile, whom police declined to identify because of his age, was released to the custody of his parents.
A 20-year-old employee of Chicken Magician of Teaneck had just delivered food to a West Palisade Avenue residence when he was accosted by two males about 9:15 p.m. Sunday and robbed of about $100, Englewood Detective Capt. C. Kenneth Tinsley said.
Police arrested the juvenile later that night after the victim, who recognized the juvenile from a playground basketball game, gave police a description.
McKinnon turned himself in Monday, Tinsley said.
The money was returned to the victim, he said.
Starting with a Jan. 7 mugging of a 50-year-old man in the parking lot of a church, 13 people were assaulted in separate incidents, Tinsley said, and eight of them were robbed in dark and isolated areas in the 1st and 3rd wards.
“We haven’t confirmed it yet but we are checking to see if they [the two suspects] were involved with the other incidents,” Tinsley said.
He added that increased patrols in the 1st and 3rd wards would continue.

Keywords: ROBBERY; ASSAULT; PROBE; ENGLEWOOD; YOUTH

FDU STUDENT HURT IN FIGHT

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Sunday, January 20, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | All Editions | NEWS | Page A04

An 18-year-old Fairleigh Dickinson University student who was kicked in the face and knocked down a flight of stairs during a fight in a Teaneck dormitory Saturday was in stable condition after an operation to remove blood on his brain, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Gerald P. Romano of Bristol, R.I., was unconscious when he arrived at Hackensack Medical Center at 12:30 a.m. following the fight in a dormitory hallway, Teaneck Police Officer Veronica Thornton reported.
Romano had a blood alcohol content of 0.21 percent, according to the report.
Bergen County Prosecutor John J. Fahy said his office wants to find out what caused the fight. But he said he does not expect anyone to be charged with a crime.
Witnesses told police that Ricardo Carter, 19, of East Orange kicked Romano in the face and knocked him down the stairs of the Linden 3B dormitory.
One of the witnesses, Candace Mitchell, 18, of Clearwater, Fla., said in an interview Saturday that Romano had been involved in a fight minutes earlier with Scott Barrett, 18, of Teaneck.

Keywords: TEANECK; COLLEGE; STUDENT; ASSAULT

POLICE SEEK SUSPECT IN GUARD’S STABBING

MICHAEL O. ALLEN | Friday, December 21, 1990

The Record (New Jersey) | Four Star B | NEWS | Page B03

Borough police are looking for a man who stabbed a department store security officer on the evening of Dec. 7.

The police are sending out a New Jersey State Police composite drawing of the man, described as in his mid-20s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weighing about 180 pounds.

A store detective at Marshall’s department store at 370 Kinderkamack Road saw the suspect conceal merchandise under his coat and leave the store shortly before 8 p.m. Dec. 7, said Emerson Police Lt. Brian C. Yehle. The security officer chased the man and, after turning a corner, was assaulted, he said.

Yehle said anyone with information regarding the suspect should contact the police at 262-2800.

Caption: PHOTO – Suspect in Dec. 7 stabbing.