Police: 3 Men Posed as Cops to Kidnap and Rob N.J. Residents!
Three New York men were arrested last week after allegedly posing as police officers to force their way into a multi-family home in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, where they restrained residents and conducted a robbery, according to authorities.
Diogenes A. Rosario, 49, Leonel Perez, 38, both of New York, and Misael Diaz of Yonkers face a series of charges, including three counts of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree robbery, second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, third-degree burglary, third-degreetheft, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and fourth-degree impersonating a law enforcement officer.
The charges were announced Monday by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours of October 12, when the three suspects reportedly entered a home on Crescent Lane.
Dressed in dark clothing, wearing face masks, and displaying imitation police badges, they posed as law enforcement officers to gain entry, according to the prosecutor’s statement.
Once inside, the suspects forcibly restrained three residents, including two minors under the age of 14. Three other juveniles, who were asleep during the intrusion, were not directly confronted by the suspects.
After securing the residents, the trio reportedly ransacked the home, stealing valuables before fleeing the scene.
The suspects’ vehicle, identified by detectives as using a stolen license plate, was tracked back to Rosario, Perez, and Diaz.
Authorities were able to link the men to the crime based on vehicle surveillance and further investigation.
Rosario was apprehended on October 30 at a Ridgefield residence and subsequently detained at Bergen County Jail. Perez was arrested in New York City and is currently held at Rikers Island, awaiting extradition to Bergen County.
Diaz was detained in Yonkers on November 1 and is currently in custody at the Westchester County Jail, also pending extradition.
As part of the investigation, detectives executed a search at a New York City home connected to both Rosario and Perez.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office is continuing to investigate and gather evidence related to the incident.