BERGEN COUNTY SHERIFF LAUNCHES REGIONAL FUGITIVE TASK FORCE; SIX ARRESTS MADE
BERGEN COUNTY SHERIFF LAUNCHES REGIONAL FUGITIVE TASK FORCE; SIX ARRESTS MADE
Bergen County, N.J. – Sheriff Anthony Cureton has launched the Bergen County Fugitive Task Force through a partnership with the Bergen County Chiefs Association. The task force is charged with locating and arresting individuals who have outstanding criminal warrants and are fugitives from justice from Bergen County Superior Court. The following police agencies have participated in new task force to date:
Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office
Bogota Police Department
Demarest Police Department
Franklin Lakes Police Department
Glen Rock Police Department
Hillsdale Police Department
Little Ferry Police Department
Midland Park Police Department
Park Ridge Police Department
Saddle Brook Police Department
Westwood Police Department
Wyckoff Police Department
Under the direction of Sheriff Cureton, the Fugitive Task Force was dispatched during the early morning on Tuesday June 11, during which time, they located and arrested six (6) individuals for “Failing to Appear" in Bergen County Superior Court for various offenses:
| Name | Location Found | Original Charges |
| Tracy Kraus | Hackensack | 3rd Degree Failing to Appear and Register as a Sex Offender |
| Steven Thomas | Garfield | 2nd degree Luring/Enticing a Child by Various Means |
| Christopher Azurdia | Palisades Park | 3rd degree Burglary and Resisting Arrest |
| Joseph Chmielewski | Wallington | 2nd degree Endangering – Abuse/Neglect of a Child |
| Juliann Chmielewski | Wallington | Failure to Make Child Support Payment to Child Protection and Permanency (Arrears) |
| Milagros Diaz | Paterson | 3rd degree Burglary |
All arrestees were transported to the Bergen County Jail pending Court Appearances. The charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The task force will continue to operate on a regular basis.
“I would like to thank the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association for partnering with the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office on this initiative as well as the Chiefs of the twelve participating agencies. I look forward to the expansion of this task force as additional agencies sign on. Keeping our residents safe is the top priority for Bergen County law enforcement and the Fugitive Task Force will continue this mission by tracking down those who have evaded justice” said Sheriff Anthony Cureton.
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