Prospect Park Police Department

08/31/2026

** Attention Residents **
It's that time of year again!!!!!!
School starts Thursday, September 3, 2026. There will also be an early dismissal on Friday, September 4, 2026.

08/21/2026

On Thursday, August 20, 2026, at approximately 6:02 pm, Officers Batej and Chaker responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Haledon Avenue and North 7th Street. After speaking with the driver, later identified as Jasmine Bejaou, it was determined that she was under the influence of alcohol, and she was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (D.W.I.). The two small children in the vehicle were unharmed in the crash and were released into the custody of their father and grandmother.

The vehicle driven by Ms. Bejaou was towed from the scene by BDJ Towing. Ms. Bejaou was issued several motor vehicle citations, including: 1) Reckless Driving, 2) Careless Driving, 3) Driving While Intoxicated, 4) Open Container in a Motor Vehicle, and 5) No Insurance in Possession.

The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

08/20/2026

On Friday, August 7, 2026, a white male was recorded by surveillance cameras stealing a package from the front porch of a residence on North 14th Street. Two days later, on Sunday, August 9, 2026, the same individual was again captured on surveillance footage attempting to enter a garage on North 6th Street. Detective Bonagura was able to positively identify the suspect as Michael Benedek. As a result, Benedek was charged with theft of a residential package under N.J.S. 2C:20-2B(2)(M), a third-degree crime. Additionally, he was charged with defiant trespass under N.J.S. 2C:18-3b(3) on a criminal summons. The suspect is currently lodged in the Bergen County Jail.

The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

On Sunday, August 16, 2026, an unknown male went onto the front porch of a Prospect Park resident and committed a lewd act. The incident was captured on video and was forwarded to the detective bureau for investigation. The male, Andy Castro, turned himself in on Thursday, August 20, 2026. The subject was charged on a criminal summons complaint and released pending a court appearance.

The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

08/14/2026

08/07/2026

*** National Night Out 2026 ***

08/07/2026

On Saturday, August 1, 2026, Sgt. Daghstani stopped a white Dodge Dart traveling northbound on Haledon Avenue for failing to stop at the red traffic signal at the intersection of Haledon Avenue and North 11th Street. The driver was later identified as Ms. Kajanae Kinion.

Dispatch then informed the officers that Ms. Kinion's driver's license was suspended and that she had an active bench warrant from the Guttenberg Municipal Court for $550. As a result, Ms. Kinion was placed under arrest for the active warrant. The vehicle was towed because it was unregistered and lacked insurance.

Ms. Kajanae received the following motor vehicle summonses:

- 39:4-81 FAILURE TO OBSERVE TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE
- 39:3-71 MIRRORS REQUIRED ON EVERY MOTOR VEHICLE
- 39:3-4 DRIVING OR PARKING AN UNREGISTERED MOTOR VEHICLE
- 39:6B-2 NO LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE ON MOTOR VEHICLE
- 39:3-40 DRIVING AFTER DRIVER'S LICENSE/REGISTRATION SUSPENDED/REVOKED
- 39:3-29A FAILURE TO POSSESS DRIVER'S LICENSE

The Guttenberg Police took custody of Ms. Kinion.
The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

08/07/2026

**Motor Vehicle Stop Leads to Gun and Drug Arrest**

On Sunday, August 2, 2026, at approximately 11:21 PM, Sergeant Daghstani stopped a gray Honda Accord traveling northbound on Haledon Avenue for having no front plate and heavily tinted windows. The vehicle came to a complete stop at the intersection of Haledon Avenue and North 14th Street. It was later determined that the front-seat passenger, Marckese Stewart Jr., had an active traffic warrant for his arrest out of the city of Paterson for $750.

Upon searching Mr. Stewart's person, officers found two medium-sized bags of ma*****na and a loaded .40 caliber handgun containing nine hollow-point rounds, which he was not licensed to carry, concealed in his groin area. Also found in Mr. Stewart's Louis Vuitton backpack were thirty envelopes of suspected he**in, ten suspected ecstasy pills, one ma*****na cigarette, and one digital scale. He was then placed under arrest and transported to headquarters.

The driver, Najavar Cooks-Wade, was issued the following tickets:
1. 39:3-33 - Improper Display/Unclear Plates
2. 39:3-74 - Obstruction of Windshield for Vision
3. 39:4-97.2 - Unsafe Operation of Vehicle

Mr. Stewart Jr. was charged criminally with the following offenses:
1. 2C:39-4(a)(1) - Possession of a Firearm with a Purpose to Use It Unlawfully Against the Person or Property of Another
2. 2C:39-3F - Prohibited Weapons and Devices, Knowingly Possesses Any Hollow Nose or Dum-Dum Bullet
3. 2C:39-3J - Individuals Knowingly Possess a Large Capacity Ammunition Magazine
4. 2C:35-5B(3) - Manufacturing, Distributing, or Dispensing He**in or Its Analog
5. 2C:35-5B(13) - Manufacturing, Distributing, or Dispensing Any Other Controlled Dangerous Substance Classified in Schedule I, II, III, or IV, or Its Analog
6. 2C:35-10A(1) - Possession of Any Schedule I-IV Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) Without a Valid Prescription, Classified as a Third-Degree Crime
7. 2C:39-5B(1) - Unlawful Possession of a Handgun
8. 2C:39-4.1A - Weapons; Controlled Dangerous Substances and Other Offenses, a Firearm
9. 2C:35-7A - Distributing or Dispensing Controlled Dangerous Substances Near or On School Property Used for School Purposes
10. 2C:35-7A - Distributing or Dispensing Controlled Dangerous Substances Near or On School Property Used for School Purposes

Mr. Stewart was also issued the following motor vehicle summonses:
1. 39:3-76.2F(C) - Failure of Adult: Rear Seat Passengers to Wear Seat Belt
2. 39:4-51B - Open Container of Alcohol or Unsealed Cannabis in Motor Vehicle

The subject was then transported to the Passaic County Hub. Officer Batej assisted throughout the entire incident.

The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.