Thread: Alleged illegal alien held in attack of North Bergen woman

www.zwire.com

Arrest in Braddock Park rape
Alleged illegal alien held in attack of North Bergen woman
By: Jim Hague , Reporter staff writer


Investigators from the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office apprehended a 25-year-old man in a Guttenberg bar last Saturday and charged him with the assault, rape and robbery of a North Bergen woman in the wooded area of North Hudson Braddock Park a week prior.

According to Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio, Esbin Amadeo Garcia, whom he said allegedly entered this country illegally from Guatemala, was apprehended Saturday evening at 11 p.m. at La Perla Tavern on Bergenline Avenue, after authorities received a tip from an informant that Garcia was there.

"He was arrested without incident," DeFazio said. "We had developed some information from people who knew him that he would be at that spot that night. That's what came to pass."


Garcia, a day laborer whose last known address was in Fairview and who regularly worked in Middletown, N.Y., was charged with attacking a 51-year-old North Bergen resident of Hispanic descent after she was walking home from work through Braddock Park at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22.

According to DeFazio, the victim had just entered the park at 87th Street and Bergenline Avenue after getting off a bus, when Garcia allegedly came up from behind the victim.

"He [allegedly] threatened her in Spanish, telling her that he would kill her if she resisted, then grabbed her and brought her into a wooded area," DeFazio said. "He [allegedly] attacked her, physically struck her, robbed her of $15 and her cell phone and fled the scene."

The victim immediately called the North Bergen Police Department, and detectives soon arrived on the scene to preserve it for any possible evidence. The Prosecutor's Office's Sexual Assault Victims Assistance unit was called in to help with the investigation.


The victim

The victim was transported to Christ Hospital to be treated for her injuries. She was later released, but she was very cooperative with investigators. DeFazio said that she provided forensic evidence that contained Garcia's genetic material.

After conducting the investigation for a week, DeFazio said that the detectives in his office finally received a tip "from a concerned citizen" that led to Garcia's arrest.

Garcia was then placed in a lineup, where the victim made a positive identification.

After Garcia was apprehended and booked, it was learned that he allegedly was an illegal immigrant from Guatemala. Immigration and Naturalization Services have been contacted, but Garcia will face the charges for the assault before anything.

He is currently being held at the Hudson County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.



Unrelated

DeFazio made sure to say that Garcia is not believed to be a part of any other sexual assaults that have taken place in North Hudson over the last year.

"This is not related to any other incident," DeFazio said. "This was an exceptional circumstance. This is not a repeated activity."

What makes the case more disturbing to Hudson County's top law enforcement officer is that Garcia's name may be an alias.

"We're not really sure that's his name," DeFazio said. "So there is some question about his identity. Unfortunately, it's becoming more prevalent, especially in North Hudson. A lot of these illegal aliens are coming in from Central America, and we have no data base or record for them. It's obviously presenting an issue."

DeFazio applauded the work of the SAVA (Sexual Assault Victim Assistance) unit investigators, the Prosecutor's Office investigators and the North Bergen police.

"It was excellent investigation and an excellent apprehension," DeFazio said.

DeFazio said that although the incident appears to be isolated, women should be on guard against possible predators.

"When they're traveling alone, ladies, quite frankly, have to be cautious anywhere," DeFazio said. "Cautious and careful, especially once it gets dark, and it gets dark earlier now. They have to be aware in a park, in parking lots. Unfortunately, especially when they're alone, there's always a degree of risk."

DeFazio didn't want to sound an alarm to the residents near the park, but the assault did raise some concern.



Neighbors concerned

"No one wants to hear about incidents like that in such a beautiful, peaceful park," said Marie D'Antonio, who has lived near the park for more than 40 years. "I always go to the park when I want to find peace and happiness. I don't want to have fear when I go. This was horrible and I was very sad to hear about it."

Some residents offered concern about drug dealing and public intoxication in the area, especially on Sundays, when soccer games are played nearby. But a sexual assault brings new meaning and dimensions.

"This is scary," Grace Colvin said. "This is something totally different to this neighborhood. You always think you can be safe near the park. I guess we all have to be a little more careful now."

"When they're traveling alone, ladies, quite frankly, have to be cautious anywhere," DeFazio said. "Cautious and careful, especially once it gets dark, and it gets dark earlier now. They have to be aware in a park, in parking lots. Unfortunately, especially when they're alone, there's always a degree of risk."

Welcome to life in the 21st century