By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Passaic County announce the arrest of Valentin Torres, 33, of Paterson.
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes stated the defendant was arrested without incident on October 2, in Totowa, by members of the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office Public Integrity Unit.
Officials said the defendant was charged with second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, second-degree Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault, and third-degree Receiving Stolen Property.
The sentencing exposure for a second-degree crime is 5-10 years in New Jersey State Prison; for a third-degree crime, it is 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison, officials say.
According to officials, the investigation was conducted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Public Integrity Unit and the Paterson Police Department.
It is alleged that on August 23, 2024, at approximately 2:00 a.m., off-duty Paterson Police Officer Valentin Torres conspired with co-defendant Jonathan Cristobal to commit an aggravated assault against a victim at the Mancora Lounge in the City of Paterson, authorities say.
The investigation revealed that Cristobal was in possession of a handgun, which he handed to Torres moments before the assault, officials said. Cristobal punched the victim in the face, knocking out several teeth.
During the assault, officials stated that Torres had the handgun in the front of his waistband and, at one point, took out the handgun and held it in his right hand. After the assault, Torres drove away from the scene, and Cristobal fled on foot.
Moments later, the Paterson Police Department pulled over the vehicle being driven by Torres a short distance from the scene. Torres was arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence, according to officials.
Officials say that a subsequent search of the vehicle he was driving resulted in the recovery of a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun that had been reported stolen out of North Carolina.
The defendant is scheduled for Central Judicial Processing on October 2, authorities say.
Officials said co-defendant Jonathan Cristobal was arrested on September 13 and charged with second degree Aggravated Assault, second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and second degree Certain Persons not to Possess Firearms.
On the State’s motion, officials stated that Judge Scott Rumana ordered Cristobal to be detained pretrial on September 18.