BCPO: HECTOR J. TORRES-DURAN OF PASSAIC AND STALIN M. TAVAREZ OF PATERSON CHARGED WITH DRUG OFFENSE

Press release from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office:

Maureen Parenta

Jul 2

For Immediate Release:

July 2, 2021

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of HECTOR J. TORRES-DURAN (DOB: 3/09/1994; married; barber) of 383 Harrison Street, Passaic, NJ and STALIN M. TAVAREZ (DOB: 7/03/1991; single; unemployed) of 107 Martin Street, Paterson, NJ on drug-related offenses. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love.

On May 5, 2021, an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force revealed that HECTOR TORRES-DURAN was involved in distributing cocaine in Bergen and Passaic County, NJ. During this investigation, HECTOR TORRES-DURAN distributed cocaine in Garfield.

On June 30, 2021, during a motor vehicle stop in Garfield, NJ, a yellow taxi operated by HECTOR TORRES-DURAN and also occupied by STALIN TAVAREZ was stopped on Jewel Street near the intersection of Outwater Lane. A search of the vehicle yielded approximately twenty grams of cocaine within the front compartment of the vehicle. HECTOR TORRES-DURAN and STALIN TAVAREZ were arrested at the scene.

HECTOR TORRES-DURAN and STALIN TAVAREZ were each charged with one count of second-degree Possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2). Additionally, HECTOR TORRES-DURAN was charged with one count of third-degree Distribution of cocaine, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3). TORRES-DURAN and TAVAREZ were remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending their first appearances in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ.

Prosecutor Mark Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he would like to thank the Garfield Police Department for its assistance in this investigation.

This press release was produced by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. The views expressed here are the author’s own.