Man arrested for assault with a machete reported to ICE as illegal

by South Jersey News Online
Monday August 27, 2007, 4:01 PM
By AMANDA HAMM
ahamm@sjnewsco.com

BRIDGETON -- City police notified U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement of an illegal immigrant in the city for the first time under a new directive, after they arrested a man for going after another man with a machete Saturday.

Bonifacio Alquezda, 41, of Cohansey Street, was charged with aggravated assault, possession of weapons for unlawful purposes, unlawful possession of weapons, criminal mischief, obstructing the administration of law, violation of probation and two failure to appear warrants following the incident.


He was lodged in the Cumberland County Jail in lieu of $36,751 bail.

Last week, state Attorney General Anne Milgram issued a mandate requiring law enforcement officers to contact federal authorities when illegal immigrants are arrested for major crimes.

According to Lt. Burl Kimble, Alquezda was approached on Cohansey Street at 3:50 p.m. Saturday by two men trying to sell him clothing.

For unknown reasons, Alquezda went after one of the men with a machete.

Kimble said the victim jumped into a vehicle to avoid Alquezda, who then attacked the vehicle instead, causing $250 worth of damage to the driver's side window and door.

Kimble said Alquezda has had prior run-ins with the law in New Jersey, which alerted police of the fact that he is not a U.S. citizen.

He said after notifying ICE of Alquezda's status, police were told a case agent would be assigned to the incident for further investigation.


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