HACKENSACK, N.J. — Authorities have arrested and indicted four men and a juvenile in connection with an armed robbery that occurred near the intersection of East Pleasantview Avenue and Kipp Street, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced.
Omar I. Cetiner, 21, Islam A. Salaam, 20, and Michael N. Fenner, 23, all of Hackensack, along with Alan A. Valdez-Metz, 29, of Paterson, and a 17-year-old male from Paterson face various charges following a months-long joint investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Hackensack Police Department.
On April 27 at approximately 6:30 p.m., two victims were sitting in a parked car near the intersection when a white Mercedes Benz coupe pulled up beside them. Prosecutors say Cetiner exited the vehicle with a handgun, while the 17-year-old emerged from the trunk, also armed, and chased one of the victims attempting to flee. The suspects stole a wristwatch, chain, and bag before fleeing the scene.
Salaam is accused of acting as a lookout during the robbery, while Valdez-Metz allegedly coordinated the incident with Cetiner.
On May 8, Cetiner was arrested outside his Hackensack apartment. During a search of his residence, investigators recovered suspected marijuana and arrested Fenner on controlled substance charges.
Authorities executed a court-authorized search warrant at the juvenile’s residence in Paterson on May 29, taking the teen into protective custody. Salaam was arrested at his home on June 4, and Valdez-Metz was taken into custody in Paterson on July 23.
The investigation was led by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and supported by the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team and the Hackensack Police Department.
