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N.Y. cops charged in N.J. home invasion
NorthJersey.com ^ | 05.20.07 | ALLISON PRIES

Posted on 05/27/2007 8:26:17 PM PDT by Coleus

Authorities said Saturday they anticipated more arrests after taking two off-duty New York City police officers into custody following an alleged shakedown attempt in Rutherford. Hector Alvarez of Brooklyn and Miguel Castillo of the Bronx, both 28, were pulled over Friday morning on Route 495 as the result of what the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office described as a home invasion that was thwarted by an inquisitive neighbor. They were being held Saturday in the Bergen County Jail on $1 million bail, with no 10 percent option.

The neighbor became suspicious when he saw Alvarez and Castillo -- dressed in business suits -- fighting with a resident about 7:50 a.m. Friday. As the officers tried to leave, the neighbor asked them to identify themselves, according to a statement from the Prosecutor's Office. Alvarez and Castillo said they were police officers on "official business" conducting an investigation related to "terrorism," the statement said.

The neighbor, however, was skeptical of the explanation and asked them to stay so local police could verify it, the statement said. Instead, they allegedly fled. When they were stopped by Rutherford detectives on Route 495, Alvarez and Castillo were "extremely nervous," failed to identify themselves as police officers and gave conflicting stories about why they were in Rutherford, authorities said. The detectives said they found a new crowbar, a sledgehammer and bullet-resistant vests in the car.

They were taken to Rutherford Police Headquarters, where detectives accused them of conspiring to commit an armed robbery and home invasion on a resident they allegedly thought was involved in money laundering and drug distribution. Both were charged with attempted kidnapping, armed robbery, armed burglary, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of burglar tools, unlawful use of a bullet-resistant vest and several conspiracy-related offenses.

The prosecutor's statement said additional arrests were expected, but Chief of Detectives Mike Mordaga declined to elaborate. NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said both officers were suspended immediately after their arrests and resigned later Saturday. The two had entered the police academy in 2005, and were still on probationary status. Alvarez was assigned to the 84th precinct in Brooklyn, while Castillo was assigned to the central booking unit in Manhattan. The Prosecutor's Office and the Rutherford Police Department were continuing their investigation, aided by the NYPD.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: New Jersey; US: New York
KEYWORDS: alvarez; castillo; donutwatch; hectoralvarez; leo; miguelcastillo; nypd; wodlist
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1 posted on 05/27/2007 8:26:18 PM PDT by Coleus
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To: Coleus

...seems they failed probation...


2 posted on 05/27/2007 8:30:44 PM PDT by gargoyle
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To: Coleus
N.Y. cops charged in N.J. home invasion

As a New Yorker, allow me to say something in their defense:

This is all New Jersey's fault.

3 posted on 05/27/2007 8:33:20 PM PDT by lowbridge ("The mainstream media IS the Democratic Party." - Rush Limbaugh)
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To: Coleus

This may affect their probation status.


4 posted on 05/27/2007 8:33:25 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire, but I swear I didn't see it in my rear view mirror.)
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To: Coleus

for castillo to have been assigned to manhattan central booking means he got into some trouble at some point while on the job. the only cops down there are on the rubber gun squad. they can’t date a girl without slapping them around. good riddance.


5 posted on 05/27/2007 8:37:48 PM PDT by thefactor
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To: lowbridge

It must be something in the air.


6 posted on 05/27/2007 8:39:03 PM PDT by Coleus (Pray for our Troops)
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To: lowbridge

I would have “thunk” it easier to blame Bush!


7 posted on 05/27/2007 8:40:48 PM PDT by doc1019 (Fred Thompson '08)
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To: Coleus

“unlawful use of a bullet-resistant vest”.

Sounds like it is against the law to wear a bullet proof vest in New Jersey.


8 posted on 05/27/2007 8:46:16 PM PDT by Parley Baer
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To: Coleus
What do you mean, "home invasion"? It was just a standard "no knock" entry! Don't y'all know how police operate these days? </sarcasm>
9 posted on 05/27/2007 8:49:05 PM PDT by sourcery (Democrat: n. 1. Quiche-eating surrender donkey.)
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To: Parley Baer
Sounds like it is against the law to wear a bullet proof vest in New Jersey. >>

it is if you are going to do a home invasion or commit another crime.

10 posted on 05/27/2007 8:49:10 PM PDT by Coleus (Pray for our Troops)
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To: Coleus

Oh, yes, two of New York’s finest.


11 posted on 05/27/2007 8:53:11 PM PDT by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
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To: doc1019; lowbridge

It would be easier to blame Bush. Show lowbridge’s integrity to not take the easy path.


12 posted on 05/27/2007 8:56:35 PM PDT by RobinOfKingston (Man, that's stupid...even by congressional standards.)
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To: Parley Baer

Possession during commission of a felony...is a ...felony!


13 posted on 05/27/2007 9:00:49 PM PDT by dasboot
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To: thefactor
"for castillo to have been assigned to manhattan central booking means he got into some trouble at some point while on the job. the only cops down there are on the rubber gun squad."

Sometimes ...but there are other reasons....like not producing proper embouchure when asked to kiss butt....being a pain in the ass about arresting people without PC...or the Chief doesn't like you for whatever reason. Seems like chiefs spend most of their time screwing people. Went through three of them. All the same.

14 posted on 05/27/2007 9:05:38 PM PDT by dasboot
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To: Coleus

Somebody owes that neighbor a beer and more. I wonder what would have happened if he hadn’t stuck his noise in there.


15 posted on 05/27/2007 9:38:56 PM PDT by Northern Alliance
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To: dasboot
there are 35,000 nypd cops. believe me this kid never dealt with a chief in his career.

but my guess is that his girlfriend dropped a dime on this guy to internal affairs. even if her story was total BS, the job will take your gun and shield away pending an "investigation" that could take years. all the while, you're stuck in central booking processing perps and being miserable.

16 posted on 05/27/2007 9:43:58 PM PDT by thefactor
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To: thefactor
Roger that....I had 300 guys on my department....equivalent of NYC District Chief or something like that?

I spent the last five years of my 20 jammed into booking. I had opinions on things. I liked most of the guys in the cells better than my chain-up. And they actually did me a huge favor . I made lemonade out of the situation...and got out while I'm still young. Incentive.

17 posted on 05/27/2007 10:05:44 PM PDT by dasboot
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To: Coleus
This story reminds me of what people in Chicago said back in the day.

If your place is robbed, don't call the cops. They have already been there!

18 posted on 05/27/2007 11:34:23 PM PDT by vox humana
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To: Northern Alliance
And now that he has, he might get police “protection” at his door.
19 posted on 05/27/2007 11:41:00 PM PDT by endthematrix (a globalized and integrated world - which is coming, one way or the other. - Hillary)
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To: doc1019

“I would have “thunk” it easier to blame Bush!”

‘Bush’s fault’ isn’t so funny now that so many of our problems are Bush’s fault.


20 posted on 05/28/2007 10:49:03 AM PDT by gcruse
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