- Jose Aquino-Arias, 33, of Paterson, was charged with fourth-degree obstructing the administration of law after a May incident in Teaneck.
- Police said Aquino-Arias allegedly fled from officers after a private citizen confronted him over what the citizen believed was an attempted child-luring incident.
- Detectives later determined the original 911 caller was associated with an online group that poses as minors and attempts to arrange meetings with people its members believe are seeking sexual activity with a minor.
TEANECK, NJ — A Paterson man was arrested after allegedly fleeing from Teaneck police responding to a reported attempted child-luring incident, authorities announced Thursday as a widely circulated social media video brought renewed attention to the case.
Teaneck Police Chief Seth B. Kriegel identified the man as Jose Aquino-Arias, 33, of Paterson, and said he was charged with obstructing the administration of law, a fourth-degree crime.
The incident began May 24, when the Teaneck Police Department received a 911 call from a person reporting an attempted child-luring incident near Cedar Lane, according to police. The caller told authorities that a man, later identified as Aquino-Arias, had fled after being confronted while allegedly attempting to meet someone the caller believed to be a juvenile under circumstances that, if substantiated, could constitute an attempted luring offense.
Officers were directed to River Road near Kent Avenue, where Aquino-Arias was reportedly last seen. Police said officers located him walking in the area and identified themselves before ordering him to stop.
“Despite repeated commands from uniformed officers, Aquino-Arias fled on foot and ran through several residential backyards,” police said in the release.
Officers subsequently located Aquino-Arias and placed him under arrest. Police charged him with obstructing the administration of law under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1(a). He was processed by the Teaneck Police Department and released on a summons complaint.
The police department did not announce a child-luring charge against Aquino-Arias. The circumstances that prompted the original 911 call remain under investigation.
Detectives determined during the investigation that the person who made the initial 911 call was associated with a private online group whose members pose as minors and attempt to arrange in-person meetings with people they believe may be seeking sexual activity with a minor, police said.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged attempted luring is being conducted by the Teaneck Police Department in conjunction with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit.
Police also used Thursday’s announcement to warn residents against conducting their own investigations or attempting to apprehend people they suspect of criminal activity.
The department said privately conducted “stings” can interfere with legitimate law-enforcement investigations, compromise or improperly preserve evidence, create legal issues that could jeopardize a prosecution and place both members of the public and suspects in dangerous situations.
Authorities urged anyone who believes a person may be attempting to exploit or lure a child to immediately contact police rather than confront the person themselves. Trained investigators, police said, have the resources to safely investigate allegations, preserve evidence, identify potential victims and suspects and pursue appropriate criminal charges.
Anyone with information about the investigation can contact the Teaneck Police Department at 201-837-2600. Anonymous and confidential tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at www.bergencrimestoppers.org or by calling 844-466-6789. Crime Stoppers may offer cash rewards for information leading to an arrest.
