Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of Hector J. Torres-Duran, 27, of Passaic and Stalin M. Tavarez, 29, of Paterson, 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.
According to Prosecutor Musella, on May 5, an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force revealed that Torres-Duran was involved in distributing cocaine in Bergen and Passaic County. During this investigation, Torres-Duran distributed cocaine in Garfield.
Prosecutor Musella said that on June 30, during a motor vehicle stop in Garfield, a yellow taxi operated by Torres-Duran and also occupied by 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 car. Torres-Duran and Tavarez were arrested at the scene.
According to Prosecutor Musella, Torres-Duran and Tavarez were each charged with Possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
Additionally, Hector J. Torres-Duran was charged with Distribution of cocaine. Torres-Duran and Tavarez were remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending their first appearances in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.