Fairfield PD/ Deputy Chief Anthony Manna – The Fairfield Police Department announces the arrest of Tejas Patel (36) of North Bergen, N.J..for third degree endangering the welfare of a child. Patel surrendered himself to Fairfield authorities on May 2, 2017 after an approximate yearlong investigation in which the files of his work computer was examined by law enforcement authorities.

In April 2016, company representatives from Command Nutritionals in Fairfield, which was Patel’s employer at the time, inadvertently discovered suspicious icons on Patel’s computer. They conducted a cursory investigation and then immediately notified the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Fairfield police. The computer was seized and eventually a search warrant was obtained to allow its files to be analyzed by technicians from the New Jersey State Police Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory.

As a result of this analysis, it is alleged that a variety of images involving minors engaged in pornographic activity were discovered and linked to Patel. A warrant was then issued for his arrest and it was served upon him when he voluntarily came to police headquarters. Patel was then transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, N.J. Detective Jeffrey Didyk investigated the case.

(It should be noted that the charge against Patel is merely an allegation and that he is presumed innocent until he either pleads guilty or is found guilty in a court of law)

Originaly posted on Fairfieldpolicenj.org

Today five Officers were honored for being the first on the scene during a fire on Gray Street in Jersey City, their actions evacuating the building amidst the blaze saved 14 lives.

Sgt. Jennifer Vernaglia, Officer’s Michael Babiak, Andres Belmonte, Timothy Ballance, and Daniel Rivera.

“They were honored for their actions by the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders as this was an opportunity to give back to the men and women who give so much to us,” writes North Bergen’s Freeholder Anthony Vainieri. “It is an honor to have such brave members of the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office protecting us all.”

A family of 4 had been in the fire for over an hour. “I woke up because I start coughing and all I saw was smoke. I grabbed my daughter and threw her on the ground,” says fire survivor Melinda Viruet. “My family made it out and that’s all that matters. I have to thank the first responders.”

A GoFundMe has been started for the Viruet family.

Video posted by YouTube user: Justin Kim