Human trafficking arrest made at New Jersey Go-Go Bar

SECAUCUS, NJ — Secaucus police have made another arrest at AJ's Go-Go Bar, stepping up surveillance of the establishment's operations. Dilcia Nunez Gomez, 36, of Belleville, was arrested last week on charges of engaging and promoting prostitution. This follows a series of undercover operations conducted by the Secaucus Police Department's Anti-Crime Unit, responding to ongoing complaints about illegal activity at the bar.

The recent operations stem from a tip received in April 2024 regarding continued prostitution at the location located at 201 Secaucus Road. This is not the first time AJ has been the subject of law enforcement efforts. Previous police actions at the bar included nine arrests in December 2021 for offenses ranging from promoting prostitution to distributing cocaine and three additional arrests in November 2022 for similar charges.

Despite these recurring legal issues, AJ's Go-Go Bar continues to operate, which has drawn criticism from local law enforcement. Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller expressed frustration with the State Alcohol and Beverage Control Board's decision to allow the establishment to remain open, citing it as a factor allowing crime crimes to persist. vice on site.

Charges against Gomez are pending and she is presumed innocent until proven guilty. These events highlight the ongoing challenges local authorities face in tackling illegal activities associated with nightlife venues.

The New York City Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating Anihya Rivera, a 14-year-old white Hispanic girl reported missing from her home in Queens. Anihya was last seen at her residence at 59-56 56 Road in Ward 104 on Thursday, June 13, 2024, around 7:04 p.m.

Anihya is described as having brown eyes and black hair. She is approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs approximately 100 pounds. During her last visit, she was wearing a white shirt, a black sweater and black and white sneakers.

The NYPD has released media reports regarding the missing teen and is urging anyone with information on Anihya's whereabouts to come forward to help her return safely.

Marlaine Cleveland, an off-duty NYPD police officer, was arrested early Saturday morning for allegedly operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The 43-year-old police officer was taken into custody at 3:06 a.m. in Brooklyn's 69th Precinct.

Officer Cleveland, who works for the New York City Police Department, now faces charges related to drunk driving.

Marlaine Cleveland, the NYPD officer recently arrested for driving under the influence, has been with the force since July 2012. Currently assigned to the 106th Precinct, she has been active there since October 2022 and previously served in the Intelligence Bureau and Patrol the Queens borough. South.

Officer Cleveland, 43, has a service badge number 27796 and earned a salary of $99,400 last year. She has been the subject of disciplinary action in the past, with two substantiated allegations of abuse of authority stemming from a single complaint filed in June 2013, involving a refusal to provide her name and shield number and the issuance of 'a summons in retaliation.

Both allegations led to disciplinary action at the command, with the NYPD concluding that the corrective instructions were sufficient.

The NYPD has not released additional details about the circumstances leading to Cleveland's arrest. The case is expected to proceed through the court system where the specific details and evidence collected will be further examined.

SYRACUSE, New York — The Syracuse ATV Police Department successfully removed three illegally operating ATVs from public spaces Thursday, highlighting their continued efforts to address this problem in the city. The operation resulted in three arrests, including one person charged with possession of a stolen Honda dirt bike in Fulton County.

The police department maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward the illegal operation of ATVs in municipal parks and on public roads. Violators caught in such acts will be subject to arrest and a charge of violating local law, which includes a $500 fine for first-time offenders and a significant additional surrender fee.

Syracuse Police expressed gratitude to the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office for their cooperation and support provided by their Air One unit during the operation. The initiative is part of a larger effort to improve safety and enforce local laws strictly regarding ATV use in Syracuse.

BALTIMORE, MD — Early Friday morning, Baltimore police responded to reports of a shooting victim at a local hospital, only to find that the individual had already left the facility. The first call came in around 6:15 a.m.

Shortly after, around 6:45 a.m., police were dispatched to the 7000 block of McClean Boulevard for another report of a shooting. When police arrived, they found a 34-year-old man with an abrasion on his arm. The victim said the shooting happened around 12:30 a.m.

North East District detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police are urging anyone with information related to this case to come forward and contact them at 410-396-2444 as the investigation continues.

FREEHOLD, NJ — Bani J. Mezquititla, a 19-year-old from Asbury Park, was sentenced to five years in state prison after being convicted of torturing and killing his pet cat. The sentencing took place Thursday, as announced by Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago.

The court also ordered Mezquititla to pay for the cat's autopsy and gave him a permanent ban preventing him from owning, residing with or having custody of animals. The decision was made by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Chad N. Cagan.

The investigation into Mezquititla began in March 2023 after a concerned citizen reported the deceased cat to Asbury Park police. Authorities, including the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Humane Law Enforcement Division, discovered that Mezquititla had sexually abused the cat and subjected it to other acts of torture leading to his death.

Following his arrest on the day the investigation began, Mezquititla was detained at the Monmouth County Correctional Facility. In April, he pleaded guilty to third-degree animal cruelty crimes for tormenting, torturing or cruelly mistreating a living animal, resulting in its death, and using an animal in a sexual manner.

Prosecutor Santiago described the case as reflecting “a greater depth of depravity” and noted that the sentence is one of the harshest penalties for such an offense in New Jersey history. He expressed hope that this outcome would satisfy the community and those nationally demanding justice for the animal, known as Ellie.