18 Arrested In Paterson 'Violent Crime' Sting: NJ AG

PATERSON, NJ — Eighteen people wanted on charges ranging from attempted homicide to weapons and drug offenses were arrested during a multi-day operation led by New Jersey State Police, the Attorney General's Office announced.

Drugs, guns and ammunition were also seized in the multi-agency operation, the AG's Office said.

These arrests and seizures are the result of a three-day operation which began on Feb. 10 in Passaic County. The arrested include people who were wanted by state, county, and local law enforcement agencies, authorities said.

These 18 people are described by the AG's Office as "violent criminals who had warrants for their arrest and were believed to be involved in criminal activity within the city of Paterson."

The range of crimes includes "attempted homicide, aggravated assault, armed robbery, theft, burglary, and various weapons and drug-related offenses," the AG's Office said.

Among the items seized during the operation were three handguns, a scoped crossbow, hollow point ammunition, 40 grams of cocaine, 700 grams of heroin and drug paraphernalia.

Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said this initiative is consistent with other measures state and local agencies have been taking recently.

"In the Paterson area alone, we have conducted more than half a dozen major collaborative operations over the past year targeting illegal weapons traffickers, drug dealers, and gang members, all of whom are fueling gun violence and drug addiction," said Grewal.

Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police Colonel Patrick J. Callahan said this initiative in particular "represents a significant step towards reducing violence in the city and its surrounding areas."

There were 27 murders reported in Paterson in 2020, a figure that hasn't been seen in the city for 31 years, according to the Paterson Times.