Police say a Hackensack man was arrested after investigators recovered heroin packaged for sale, firearms and a shotgun reported stolen more than 30 years ago.
HACKENSACK, N.J. — A shotgun reported stolen more than three decades ago was recovered during a drug investigation in Hackensack that led to the arrest of a 68-year-old man on multiple weapons and narcotics charges, police said.
The Hackensack Police Department announced that Joseph Ferro, 68, of Hackensack, was arrested following the execution of a court-authorized search warrant at his residence on Thursday.
The investigation was conducted by the department’s Crime Suppression Bureau with assistance from the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team.
According to police, investigators searched Ferro’s home, which is located near Columbus Park, and recovered heroin packaged for alleged street-level distribution, a digital scale, drug paraphernalia, a Winchester Ranger 12-gauge shotgun reported stolen to the New York State Police in 1995, a Thompson/Center .50-caliber muzzleloader rifle and 25 hollow-point shotgun slug rounds.
Ferro was charged with multiple offenses, including possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, certain persons not to possess weapons or ammunition, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public park and additional drug-related charges.
He was processed and remanded to the Bergen County Correctional and Rehabilitation Center pending an initial court appearance in Hackensack.
The charges are allegations, and Ferro is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Key Points
- A Hackensack man was arrested after police executed a search warrant at his home.
- Investigators said they recovered heroin, firearms and a shotgun reported stolen in 1995.
- The suspect faces multiple weapons and drug distribution charges.