Former District 6 Freeholder candidate Jose Falto, one of Union City Mayor Brian Stack’s most consistent antagonists, was arrested for making terroristic threats against Stack – also the State Senator of the 33 district – after authorities responded to a call at his Central Ave. residence on Wednesday.Â
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Responding to a call for an anxiety attack, Union City police described Falto, 64, as “crying and extremely emotional” due to the recent death of his ex-wife when they arrived at his home around 5:25 p.m.
After noting that Falto smelled like alcohol, police went to retrieve a firearm at a nearby apartment since he was “going to kill someone” if police did not remove the gun from the premises, the police report says.
The report also earlier identified Falto’s demeanor as “confused.”
Once police secured the weapon, an officer asked Falto to voluntarily go to the hospital “for his own safety and welfare,” Falto refused, concluding by saying “they better not come to the wake, that Stack, I’ll get them,” officials said.
“It appeared to this officer that Falto was having a mental breakdown,” the report says, leading police to handcuff Falto before EMS came and placed him on a stretcher. He was then transported to the Hoboken Medical Center where he was arrested.
North Bergen Judge Nino Falcon set Falto’s bail at $2,500 with a 10 percent option, as well as a psychological evaluation. Furthermore, Falcon called for a “no contact” order between Falto and Stack, police said.
Falto and Stack have a long history, dating back to Stack’s high school days when Falto was his guidance counselor, as Politicker NJ reported.
Falto tried to recall Stack back in 2003 (h/t Hudson Reporter) and flirted with the idea of challenging Stack for mayor this May, before opting to go head-to-head with Tilo Rivas, a top Stack ally, for the District 6 freeholder seat.
Rivas defeated Falto handily in the June 3 primary.
A former Falto campaign worker told Hudson County View that Falto was not interested in going on camera, while Falto and Stack did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
[…] matter stemming from an incident back in September, where police arrested him for allegedly saying he might “kill someone” and that he was going to “get” […]