Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces the indictment of Adonis Almonte, 22, of Bronx, New York; Carmen Ortega, 22, of Paterson; Yordy Almonte, 24, of Paterson; and Kenyi Cruz, 20, of Paterson.
A Passaic County Grand Jury has returned Indictment No. 17-03-00294-I against Adonis Almonte, Carmen Ortega, Yordy Almonte, and Kenyi Cruz stemming from the same incident.
The indictment contains the following charges for all four defendants:
three counts of first degree attempted murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1/11-3a, one count each for Harrison Police Det. Frank Narvaez, civilian victim M.B., and civilian victim M.G; four counts of second degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, namely a handgun, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a, one count for a pistol used against Det. Narvaez, one count for a pistol against M.B. and/or M.G, one count for a revolver against Det. Narvaez, and one count for a revolver against M.B. and/or M.G; two counts of second degree unlawful possession of a weapon, namely a handgun, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b, one count for a pistol and one count for a revolver; and one count of third degree receiving stolen property, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7 for the pistol. Carmen Ortega, Yordy Almonte, and Kenyi Cruz were each charged individually with fourth degree resisting by flight, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29- 2a(2).
The attempted murder in the first degree carries a maximum term of twenty years in New Jersey State Prison; unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in the second degree each carry a maximum term of ten years in New Jersey State Prison; receiving stolen property in the third degree carries a maximum term of five years in New Jersey State Prison; and resisting arrest in the fourth degree carries a maximum term of eighteen months in New Jersey State Prison.
The incident began in the area of Cedar and Lewis Streets in the City of Paterson shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Friday, October 14, 2016.
The four defendants allegedly were driving together in a vehicle when one or more of them shot at a vehicle containing M.B. and her nine-year-old daughter M.G.
Detective Narvaez, while off-duty and visiting relatives in the area, pursued the defendants’ vehicle.
While driving in the area of Madison Street in Paterson, one or more of the defendants fired upon Detective Narvaez. At the intersection of Madison and Oak Streets, the defendants’ vehicle breached a fence and crashed into a residence on the corner. At the intersection, one or more of the defendants continued to fire upon Detective Narvaez who then discharged his duty weapon.
Carmen Ortega, Yordy Almonte, and Kenyi Cruz fled the scene.
Adonis Almonte was located on scene.
The officer did not sustain any injuries. During the course of the incident, Almonte sustained non-life threatening injuries to his knee which were treated. Two handguns were recovered in or near the defendants’ vehicle: a semi-automatic pistol and a revolver.
The pistol was later learned to be stolen. A separate Grand Jury reviewed Detective Narvaez’s use of force and found it to be justified.
The defendants were initially charged on complaints by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office in the days following the incident.
The defendants are presently not employed and are unmarried. The defendants remain in custody in the Passaic County Jail.
Carmen Ortega, Yordy Almonte, and Adonis Almonte have been arraigned on the indictment before the Hon. Sohail Mohammed J.S.C. Kenyi Cruz is scheduled to be arraigned by Judge Mohammed on May 8, 2017.