By: Richard L. Smith
Police in Wayne took two Essex County men into custody after they reportedly attempted to steal a cell phone from a person in the Township on Friday.
According to Wayne Police, a Laurel Drive resident who was expecting a delivery of multiple cell phones alerted the Wayne Police Department about suspicious activity near his home.
This alert came weeks after a previous shipment of cell phones was stolen from his front porch.
As the delivery time approached, the resident observed unfamiliar vehicles with young men driving slowly past his house.
In response, Wayne Police Detective Bureau members conducted surveillance while uniformed Patrol Division officers waited nearby.
Detective Lieutenant Vincent Ricciardelli stationed himself inside the residence while Detective Jon Donado, in an unmarked vehicle, provided intelligence to the officers.
Upon the delivery of two packages by a FedEx driver, a vehicle stopped in front of the residence.
The passenger exited the car and approached the packages, but Detective Lieutenant Ricciardelli swiftly apprehended him.
Multiple officers then detained the driver, and another suspicious vehicle in the area was pursued.
The suspects, identified as Mr. Steven Ariel Fong, 23, and Waldy Perez-Rivas, 20, both from Newark, NJ, were found with a loaded Ruger .380 caliber handgun and a stolen package.
They were charged with various offenses, including Attempted Theft, Conspiracy to Commit Theft, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Perez-Rivas received an additional charge of Obstructing a Governmental Function.
Both suspects were transported to the Passaic County Jail pending detention hearings.
