Search Results for: Bergen County
Jersey City armed robber sentenced to 33 years after overnight rampage across Hudson County
Bergen County man serves 33 years for series of armed robberies
Jersey City, NJ
A Bergen County man received a 33-year prison sentence for multiple armed robberies across Hudson County. Joel Krecz, 38, was convicted on several charges including four counts of armed robbery.
The Honorable John Young sentenced Krecz on Tuesday, October 28. His conviction stems from incidents occurring between late night April 29 and early morning April 30, 2022.
In each robbery, Krecz brandished a handgun and demanded money from clerks at various businesses.
The charges included one count of robbery, five counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and multiple counts of theft and aggravated assault.
A joint investigation involved the Jersey City Police Department, Union City Police Department, Secaucus Police Department, Hoboken Police Department, and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs Task Force.
Krecz was identified as the suspect in robberies at a liquor store and gas station in Secaucus, as well as a business on Paterson Plank Road in Union City and another liquor store in Hoboken.
He was arrested on May 3, 2022, in Jersey City while armed.
Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Kenneth Paulus represented the state at sentencing.
The sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act and the Graves Act. Krecz was found not guilty of one count of aggravated assault during his trial.
The state was represented by Hudson County Assistant Prosecutors Kenneth Paulus and Kevin Roe.
North Bergen police arrest man in alleged teen kidnapping
North Bergen police arrest man in alleged teen kidnapping
NORTH BERGEN, NJ — A 35-year-old North Bergen man has been arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a 17-year-old girl on Wednesday. According to North Bergen Police Chief Robert J. Farley, Jr., the incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. near 79th Street and Bergenline Avenue.
The suspect, identified as Roberto Canavalan, faces charges of kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child. Authorities reported that Canavalan was detained at the scene and subsequently taken to the Hudson County Correctional Facility to await his court appearance.
Witnesses informed police they saw Canavalan running toward the victim, grabbing her, and dragging her several feet away from Bergenline Avenue in an apparent abduction attempt. The victim struggled for approximately two minutes before bystanders assisted her.
Three nurses from a nearby doctor’s office and a male passerby heard the girl’s cries for help. Working together, they intervened, successfully freeing her from Canavalan’s grasp.
“Responding officers located a female victim, a 17-year-old North Bergen resident, along with several witnesses,” stated the police report. Additional officers identified and arrested Canavalan on