Paterson Police Officer Charged In August 23rd Mancora Lounge Assault
Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 2:00 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
PATERSON, NJ.- Today, October 2, 2024, Valentin Torres, 33, of Paterson, New Jersey, who is employed as a Police Officer with the Paterson Police Department, was taken into custody at the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office in Totowa, New Jersey and formally charged in connection with an aggravated assault that occurred at the Mancora Lounge during the early morning hours of Friday, August 23, 2024, in the City of Paterson.
According To Prosecutor Valdes
According to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, Torres was charged today with second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; second-degree Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault; and third-degree Receiving Stolen Property.
Torres was processed on the charges and has been detained pending his first appearance, which is scheduled for today, October 2, 2024, in Passaic County Central Judicial Processing Court in Paterson, New Jersey.
The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Public Integrity Unit and the Paterson Police Department. It has been alleged that on Friday, August 23, 2024, at around 2:00 a.m., Torres, while off-duty, conspired with co-defendant Jonathan Cristobal to commit an aggravated assault against a victim at the Mancora Lounge located in the City of Paterson.
The investigation uncovered that Cristobal was in possession of a handgun, which he handed to Torres just moments before the assault. Cristobal punched the victim in the face, knocking out several teeth. During the assault, Torres had the handgun in the front of his waistband and, at one point, took out the handgun and held it in his right hand.
Torres Flees Scene
Following Cristobal assaulting the victim, Torres drove away, and Cristobal fled the lounge on foot.
Moments later, Torres was pulled over by the Paterson Police Department a short distance from the Mancora Lounge and was taken into custody and charged with Driving Under the Influence. A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun that had been reported stolen out of North Carolina.
Torres’ co-defendant, Jonathan Cristobal, was taken into custody on September 13, 2024, and charged with second-degree Aggravated Assault, second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and second-degree Certain Persons Not to Possess Weapons. On September 18, 2024, Passaic County Superior Court Judge Scott Rumana ordered Cristobal detained pending trial.
“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”
