NMPD Charge Male and Juvenile Accomplice With Car Burglaries

Chief of Police Frank Papapietro announced the arrest of Sheldon Cox, 26, of New Milford for conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit theft and employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime.

Papapietro said that on Sunday, May 20, Sgt. Daniel LaMorges and P.O. Scott Petrie responded to a call on Columbia St. regarding a dispute in progress. Officers arrived to find an unoccupied Audi A4 with the windows open and engine running. Meanwhile, P.O. Frank Haggerty responded to a call at Shop Rite where a party claimed to have been assaulted. The assault victim confirmed that the unoccupied vehicle being investigated on Columbia Street was his.

Papapietro said that the victim, 32, from Columbia St., told officers that while unloading laundry from his vehicle into his apartment, he observed a male adult and juvenile inside his vehicle. The victim told police that his iPhone was missing from the car and while confronting the juvenile, he observed that the juvenile was holding tools allegedly taken from his vehicle.

Papapietro said that a physical altercation ensued with the victim reporting that the suspect pulled out a knife and began swinging it at him, ripping his shirt and cutting his mouth. A black male, later identified as Cox, initially seen by the victim on Columbia St. prior to the incident, intervened in the altercation, but walked away after the suspect had fled.

Papapietro reported that the victim chased the suspect to Shop Rite at which time he observed Cox running with the suspect toward River Rd. However, Cox separated from the suspect when he saw they were being pursued and walked back to the parking lot. 

According to Papapietro, the victim believed that Cox was attempting to help him apprehend the juvenile. While being questioned by officers at the scene, Cox told police that the suspect ran north on River Rd.

Cox further stated that the suspect frequented the Borough basketball courts on Columbia St. and resided in Oradell, Papapietro said. After interviewing several juveniles at the basketball courts, police developed the name of the juvenile suspect.

Pappietro said that a separate witness told police that he observed two suspects matching the description of Cox and the juvenile entering a vehicle on Columbia St. 

Another witness later told detectives that he observed an adult male and juvenile matching the suspects description walking through the parking lot trying car door handles and using a cloth on their hands to conceal fingerprints. The witness stated that he saw the juvenile enter at least one vehicle.

Papapietro reported that on Tuesday, May 21, Det. Lt. Frank Ramaci observed a male and juvenile matching the description of the two suspects, but upon circling the block returned to find the juvenile alone.

Papapietro said that Ramaci called for assistance and confronted the juvenile on Elizabeth St. informing him that he was a suspect in the Columbia St. investigation and needed to accompany him to . Upon arrival at NMPD, the suspect's parents were contacted so that he could be interviewed in their presence.

During questioning, the juvenile confessed to the burglary of four vehicles, Papapietro said. The suspect was released to his parents pending burglary and theft charges in juvenile court. 

Papapietro said that the juvenile was positively identified by the victim in a photo line-up conducted by the Bergen County Sherrif's Bureau of Criminal Investigation Unit. 

Papapietro reported that Cox was arrested Friday on River Rd. by P.O. Kevin VanSaders and P.O. Darrell Marshall. Cox was charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit theft and employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime.

Papapietro said that Cox was was released pending a June 13 date.

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