N.Y. cops charged in N.J. home invasion

[Janq]

As reported by NorthJersey.com:

N.Y. cops charged in N.J. home invasion

Sunday, May 20, 2007

By ALLISON PRIES
STAFF WRITER


Authorities said Saturday they anticipated more arrests after taking two off-duty New York City police officers into custody following an alleged shakedown attempt in Rutherford.

Hector Alvarez of Brooklyn and Miguel Castillo of the Bronx, both 28, were pulled over Friday morning on Route 495 as the result of what the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office described as a home invasion that was thwarted by an inquisitive neighbor. They were being held Saturday in the Bergen County Jail on $1 million bail, with no 10 percent option.

The neighbor became suspicious when he saw Alvarez and Castillo -- dressed in business suits -- fighting with a resident about 7:50 a.m. Friday. As the officers tried to leave, the neighbor asked them to identify themselves, according to a statement from the Prosecutor's Office. Alvarez and Castillo said they were police officers on "official business" conducting an investigation related to "terrorism," the statement said.

The neighbor, however, was skeptical of the explanation and asked them to stay so local police could verify it, the statement said. Instead, they allegedly fled.

When they were stopped by Rutherford detectives on Route 495, Alvarez and Castillo were "extremely nervous," failed to identify themselves as police officers and gave conflicting stories about why they were in Rutherford, authorities said. The detectives said they found a new crowbar, a sledgehammer and bullet-resistant vests in the car.

They were taken to Rutherford Police Headquarters, where detectives accused them of conspiring to commit an armed robbery and home invasion on a resident they allegedly thought was involved in money laundering and drug distribution. Both were charged with attempted kidnapping, armed robbery, armed burglary, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of burglar tools, unlawful use of a bullet-resistant vest and several conspiracy-related offenses.

The prosecutor's statement said additional arrests were expected, but Chief of Detectives Mike Mordaga declined to elaborate.

NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said both officers were suspended immediately after their arrests and resigned later Saturday. The two had entered the police academy in 2005, and were still on probationary status. Alvarez was assigned to the 84th precinct in Brooklyn, while Castillo was assigned to the central booking unit in Manhattan.

The Prosecutor's Office and the Rutherford Police Department were continuing their investigation, aided by the NYPD.

The story can be found at; http://northjersey.com/page.php?qstr...ZxZWVFRXl5Mg==

- Janq

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Raider39a]

it is interesting that the alleged victim did not do the reporting to the authorities instead it his/her neighbor that had to bring attention to them. In any case, if they are bad apples in the NYPD, prison can be a very unforgiving place for them.

[retsupt99]

I sense an unprofessional use of the term 'buddy system' in each of those cops' future...

ret

[ccw9mm]

Go armed. Be prepared. Above all, don't live in delusion that liars, cheaters and thieves exist only in "bad" neighborhoods. They're literally everywhere, from the checkout line at your favorite corner market to the ball game and everywhere in between.

If the allegations prove true, perhaps this will be the time when lenient, laughable sentences become a thing of the past. May their bad attitudes get nailed to the wall, just like any other common thugs threatening the lives of others.

[Sig 210]

Wonder how Mayor Bloomberg will spin this one?

[Kompact9]

It would appear that these two are in pretty dire straights. The fact that they have no "10% option" and a million dollar bond indicates they'll be housed at the taxpayers expense for a while. They may well have a whole new circle of "friends"...

[retsupt99]

It would appear that these two are in pretty dire straights. The fact that they have no "10% option" and a million dollar bond indicates they'll be housed at the taxpayers expense for a while. They may well have a whole new circle of "friends"...

Don't you mean...in the circle?

ret