Paramus police arrest fugitive wanted for attempted murder after traffic stop
Police say a passenger who gave a false name was identified through fingerprints as a Paterson man wanted on a first-degree attempted murder warrant.
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A routine traffic stop in Paramus led to the arrest of a fugitive wanted on an attempted murder warrant, police said.
Police stopped a 2009 Kia on Route 4 west at about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday after noticing its Florida license plate was obscured by a heavily tinted cover, according to the Paramus Police Department.
Police said the passenger identified himself as "James Haywood" and provided a false date of birth. Police became suspicious after the passenger could not produce identification and gave inconsistent answers about his identity.
A records check showed the information matched an alias used by Yancy Haywood, 52, of Paterson, who was wanted by the Passaic County Sheriff's Office on an active attempted murder warrant, police said. Officers also observed a tattoo and scars matching the warrant description.
Haywood was taken to Paramus Police Headquarters, where detectives used fingerprints to confirm his identity, police said. During processing, Haywood told the policeman, "Officer, you did your job," according to police.
Investigators also determined that the real James Haywood has been incarcerated in the New Jersey Department of Corrections since 2011.
Paramus police charged Haywood with providing false information to a law enforcement officer. He was also taken into custody on the outstanding attempted murder warrant and taken to the Bergen County Jail.
The driver was released at the scene and issued summonses for driving while suspended, driving without a license and failure to provide documents.
In a statement, Police Chief Robert Guidetti commended Nicholas Perna, the arresting officer, saying his diligence and investigative work led to the arrest of a fugitive who police said had been wanted for attempted murder for more than two decades.
