Armed robbery in Paterson caught on cameras as mayor tries to take back control of police department
The Paterson Police Department has been under the control of the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General since March 2023.
More Stories
Police in Paterson are searching for the suspects involved in a daytime armed robbery which was caught by surveillance cameras. It happened on Main Street at the Yadiel Barbershop on Friday just before 2 p.m.
The video shows four suspects, all carrying weapons, get out of a car and start demanding money and jewelry from the owner of the Yadiel Barbershop. The owner and another man were sitting outside.
The owner spoke to News 12 New Jersey through a translator. He did not want to identify himself.
“They stole roughly $1,200 in cash, a bracelet and a necklace,” the owner said. "They had handguns, rifles."
The video shows at least one suspect holding an assault-style rifle. After targeting the owner, the suspects, dressed in black, then went into the barbershop and had guns pointed at close range at customers and employees.
Seconds pass by before the suspects are seen back outside driving away in a silver Nissan Murano.
This type of crime is why Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh says he wants to take back control of the police department, which is currently overseen by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.
Sayegh calls it a matter of principle.
“It’s beyond brazen and it’s time for [Attorney General] Matt Platkin’s failed political experiment to end,” Sayegh says. “I am the face of this city. I’m held accountable by the people of this city.”
Platkin has said that crime has been down in Paterson since taking over the police department in March of 2023.
However, the mayor argues shootings were already down 30%, and homicides were down by 60% when the takeover occurred.
Recent data from this past week shows the number of robberies, thefts, murders and burglaries in Paterson are nearly equal to this time one year ago.
Specifically, the city has experienced eight homicides this year, while that number was at nine last year. There were 251 robberies at this time in 2023. The city has currently experienced 252 this year.
The attorney general took control of Paterson police after city resident Najee Seabrooks was shot and killed by police during a mental health crisis.
Sayegh is fighting in court to have the city retake control of the police department. The next hearing concerning that matter is on Tuesday.
Chris Keating report from Sept 23, 2024
