Hackensack PD

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

A Hackensack man was arrested after a 911 caller reported seeing him walking with a gun in his hand near Holt Street late Friday night, police said.

Officers responded to a report of a man walking in the area of 116 Holt St. with a gun in his right hand on Friday, Nov. 14, at 10:18 p.m., Capt. Darrin DeWitt said.

Detectives James Han and Gunther Lara-Nunez found Jose E. Riofrio-Castillo, 20, minutes later, near Main and Bridge streets, the captain said. Police found a BB gun — a Beretta 92A1, 6 mm BB — in his jacket pocket and Riofio-Castillo was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon on a complaint warrant.

Riofrio-Castillo was also arrested on an active warrant for an assault reported on Aug. 19, at Columbus Park in Hackensack. Police said he punched a man several times and put him in a chokehold. They said he then put a gun into the man’s back while telling him, "bullets don’t lie," DeWitt said. He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, terroristic threats, and three simple assault charges on a complaint warrant.

“I thank the resident who made the 9-1-1 phone call. We were able to take a dangerous, wanted person off the streets and keep the community safer,” Detective Captain Darrin DeWitt said.

Riofrio-Castillo was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first court appearance at Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack. Police noted that the charges “are merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact CrimeStoppers of Bergenfield, Englewood, Teaneck, Hackensack, and Bogota. Tips may be submitted anonymously at bergencrimestoppers.org or by calling 844-466-6789.