On Sunday, Nov. 8, at approximately 5:40 p.m., the Lyndhurst Police Department received information from the Wayne Police Department about a possible abduction and assault that may have occurred earlier in the day at a residence in Lyndhurst.
At approximately 3:20 p.m., the Wayne Police Department received a report of an aggressive driver traveling on Route 23 within their jurisdiction. Two vehicles were in fact located — one on the side of the road (Rt. 23) and the other in a parking lot a short distance away. It was in that vehicle that they discovered a 22-year-old victim from Mahwah, who had visible signs of physical injury to include abrasions above his eyes and a swollen jaw.
Also observed was a noticeable injury to the surface of his tongue, which was consistent with his claim that one of the suspects had burned his tongue with a lit cigarette.
Once it was determined that this incident had occurred earlier in the day in Lyndhurst, Wayne police notified Lyndhurst detectives who then took over the investigation.
All suspect parties were transported to Lyndhurst Police HQ where they were interviewed and subsequently charged. The victim was interviewed at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson where he remained with what were described as non-life threatening injuries.
The Lyndhurst PD offered the following details on the kidnapping:
The victim reported that he had been kidnapped and assaulted by suspect Christian S. Reyes because Reyes found out that he (the victim) had conspired to commit burglary and theft to Reyes’ apartment.
The victim explained that when Reyes found out about the plan, he duct-taped his hands and feet together and used an electrical cord to tie him to a chair. It was at that time that the victim had his head and eyebrows shaved with a razor and his hair cut off with a knife. He was then allegedly put into Reyes’ vehicle at gunpoint and ordered to text his friend (with whom he conspired to commit burglary and theft with) to come to Lyndhurst to pick him up.
The intent was to assault him as well.
Shortly thereafter, the victim’s friend arrived in Lyndhurst, but immediately fled the area when he observed Reyes’ vehicle and realized what was going on. The victim’s friend, a 23-year-old man from North Caldwell, was then chased and subsequently caught-up-to on Rt. 23 in Wayne. He in fact was the caller who notified Wayne PD about the aggressive driver who was chasing him.
Present and participating in the assault were Quessy Acevedo and Jasely Alvarez.
Acevedo was said to have struck the victim in the face while Reyes at one point pulled out a gun and held it to the victim’s neck. Alvarez burned the victim’ tongue and threatened to kill the him with a knife, but instead used it to cut off his hair.
They then took a razor and shaved his head, eyebrows and body.
The investigation was conducted by Det. Michael Lemanowicz, with assistance by Detectives Vincent Auteri and Ronald Guirland, who conducted interviews and made application for search warrants which were executed on the Valley Brook Ave. residence as well as the vehicle involved.
The investigation is ongoing as detectives attempt to locate any other possible suspects or witnesses who may have been involved.
It should be noted that all parties involved are known to each other.
Charges are as follows:
CHRISTIAN S. REYES: Bail: $ 500,000 with no 10% option:
Kidnapping
Aggravated assault
Criminal restraint
Possession of a weapon
Certain persons not to have weapons
Terroristic threats
QUESSY ACEVEDO — Bail: $ 400,000 with no 10% option
Kidnapping
Aggravated assault
Criminal restraint
Terroristic threats
JASELY ALVAREZ — Bail: $ 400,000 with no 10% option
Kidnapping
Aggravated assault
Criminal restraint
Possession of a weapon
Poss. of a weapon for unlawful purpose
All three suspects were remanded to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of bail.
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, an organization he has served since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, and X, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to Kearny to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.