Paramus officer’s persistence leads to long-sought arrest
PARAMUS, N.J. — A routine traffic stop on Route 4 ended with the arrest of a fugitive wanted for attempted murder for nearly 25 years after a Paramus police officer uncovered the man’s true identity despite repeated efforts to mislead investigators.
According to the Paramus Police Department, Officer Nicholas Perna stopped a gray 2009 Kia on westbound Route 4 on Aug. 5 after noticing its Florida license plate was obscured by a heavily tinted cover.
Police said the passenger identified himself as James Haywood. However, Officer Perna became suspicious after the man was unable to produce identification and gave inconsistent answers about his identity.
Authorities said both the passenger and the driver insisted he was James Haywood. During the investigation, Perna also noticed tattoos and scars that matched the description of Yancy Haywood, 52, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant charging him with first-degree attempted murder and weapons offenses stemming from an October 2001 shooting in Paterson.
Police said Haywood had previously used his brother’s identity as an alias. After he was fingerprinted at police headquarters, investigators confirmed he was Yancy Haywood.
According to police, Haywood told Officer Perna during processing, “Officer, you did your job.”
Haywood was additionally charged with providing false information to a law enforcement officer in an attempt to hinder his arrest.
He was lodged in the Bergen County Jail on the outstanding warrant.
The driver of the Kia was released at the scene and issued motor vehicle summonses for driving without a license and failing to provide required documents.
Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti praised Perna’s work, saying the arrest demonstrated the officer’s professionalism, instincts and investigative skills.
All charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Key Points
- A Paramus traffic stop led to the arrest of a fugitive wanted in an attempted murder case dating back to 2001.
- Police said the suspect repeatedly claimed to be his brother before being identified through fingerprints.
- The suspect was lodged in the Bergen County Jail on the outstanding warrant.
