Hudson County Sheriff’s Officer Alex Pino, who was suspended with pay in November for posting anti-Muslim remarks on Facebook, “briefly” assisted in the apprehension of armed robbery suspects in North Bergen earlier this week, Police Chief Robert Dowd said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
North Bergen police apprehended three at the scene of an armed robbery incident, as well as five guns and relatively small amounts of marijuana, near the vicinity of 1408 43rd Street on Tuesday.
A video, uploaded to YouTube by user Joe Lepore, of the incident shows a man in a white tank top, track pants and sneakers helping uniformed North Bergen police officers subdue a suspect who appears to be in handcuffs – beginning at the 28 second mark of the clip.
Dowd and Hudson County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Juan P. Escobar confirmed to Hudson County View that the man in question is Pino, with Dowd commending the NBPD and stating that Pino lives in the neighborhood and was only involved “briefly.”
“Earlier this week, members of the North Bergen Police Department showed extraordinary valor and bravery in apprehending two suspects in an armed robbery on 43rd street mere minutes after the alleged crime,” Dowd said in a statement.
“The suspects were captured and subdued by NBPD Sergeants Ruiz and Cruz after a foot pursuit and they were supported by numerous officers from the department, as well as personnel from the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Division.”
“The responding officers briefly received additional assistance from Alex Pino, a resident who lives on the block who is employed as a Sheriff’s Officer. Mr. Pino did not have any formal role in the operation and simply responded as a private citizen in the way anyone wishing to protect their home and neighbors would.”
Dowd added that a warrant has been issued for another suspect.
Escobar further stated that Pino remains on administrative leave and “was not involved in any official capacity” in the 43rd Street armed robbery investigation.
“Officer Alex Pino remains on administrative leave as part of an ongoing internal investigation by the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office and was not involved in any official capacity in the arrest of the two men in North Bergen last Wednesday.”
At the time of Pino’s suspension, Schillari said the “Sheriff’s Office stands for professionalism and respect for our entire community above all else.