By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Bergen County announced the arrests of Christopher Gonzalez, 20, of Paterson, Raekwon J. Norwood, 20, of Paterson, and a 17-year-old juvenile who is charged with carjacking, armed robbery, weapons, and theft offenses.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella reported the arrests are the result of an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Garfield Police under the direction of Chief Richard Uram.
According to officials, on Sunday, May 14, at approximately 8:00 p.m., the Garfield Police received a report of an armed carjacking that occurred on Botany Street.
Four male suspects, two of whom were armed with a handgun, approached a Garfield resident who was sitting in his Lexus sedan outside his home, officials say.
Two of the suspects pointed their firearms at the victim and demanded his vehicle, cash, and jewelry.
The victim was able to get out of his car and run to safety while the four men fled the scene in the stolen Lexus, authorities say.
The Garfield Police notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and initiated a joint investigation.
During the investigation, officials stated that Christopher Gonzalez, Raekwon J. Norwood, and a 17-year-old juvenile were identified as suspects.
Officials said on August 28, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office detectives and Garfield Police Officers executed court-authorized search warrants at the suspects’ residences in Paterson.
Two firearms were recovered from one of the residences, and all three suspects were arrested without incident, officials stated the fourth suspect has yet to be identified.
Christopher Gonzalez was charged with first-degree carjacking, first-degree armed robbery, second-degree conspiracy to commit carjacking, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, third-degree aggravated assault, third-degree theft, fourth-degree possession of a firearm by a certain person not to possess firearms, and fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm.
Christopher Gonzalez was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, officials say.
Raekwon J. Norwood, officials said, was charged with first-degree carjacking, first-degree armed robbery, second-degree conspiracy to commit carjacking, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, third-degree aggravated assault, third-degree theft, and fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm.
According to officials, Raekwon J. Norwood was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.
The juvenile was charged as a juvenile delinquent with first-degree carjacking, first-degree armed robbery, second-degree conspiracy to commit carjacking, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, third-degree aggravated assault, third-degree theft, and fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm.
Officials say the juvenile is being held at a juvenile detention facility pending a first appearance in Hackensack in the Chancery Division, Family Court.
