Crime & Safety

Alleged Shrimp Shoplifter Jumps Into Passaic River to Escape Cops

Police charged Jose Roldan with shoplifting and eluding after he allegedly stole from ShopRite and tried to escape officers by swimming across the Passaic River.

A 42-year-old alleged shoplifter from Paterson was arrested by Fair Lawn Police Friday morning after he reportedly tried to elude them by swimming across the Passaic River.

Jose Roldan was chased by a security guard out of the River Road ShopRite at 8:39 a.m. after he allegedly shoplifted $70.86 worth of shrimp from the store, according to Det. Sgt. Brian Metzler. 

Police Lt. Derek Bastinck and Officer Sean Nagle responded and found Roldan on the Paterson side of the Maple Avenue Bridge. Roldan then ran south along the northbound side of Route 20, according to Metzler. 

Police chased Roldan, but he escaped to the Passaic River and swam across back to Fair Lawn, where officers were waiting for him behind Tribal Iron Choppers and arrested him.

Roldan was charged with shoplifting and eluding. He was still being held at Fair Lawn Police Headquarters later Friday morning.


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