Paterson officer stops robbery, tackles suspect

A Paterson police officer is being credited with thwarting four robbers as they tried to hold up a business on Wednesday. The owner of the shop tells News 12 that the suspects came in around 4:30 p.m.

News 12 Staff

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Nov 29, 2015, 7:27 AM

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Updated 3,162 days ago

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A Paterson police officer is being credited with thwarting four robbers as they tried to hold up a business on Wednesday.

The owner of the shop tells News 12 that the suspects came in around 4:30 p.m. One of them first tried to buy a phone, then another allegedly held up the store.

Someone outside the store became suspicious and called police.

When Corporal Jaime Mejia arrived, he held all four suspects until backup showed up, and even tackled one suspect as he tried to run out of the shop.

"It was very tough, but I did what I was trained to do," Mejia told News 12.

Mejia explained that he was struggling with a suspect outside the store, but showed restraint and did not fire his weapon.

Eventually, more police arrived and three arrests were made. Mejia says heroin was found on one of the suspects.

A fourth suspect is still at large.

"I'm proud to be part of the Paterson police and it's one of the best departments in the world," says Mejia.

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