Suspect arrested in Paterson sex assaults

Web produced by Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness NewsPATERSON, N.J. (WABC) -- Police have arrested Rafael Velez, who was wanted for at least two sexual assaults in Paterson, New Jersey.

Velez, 42, was arrested just after 3:30 on Thursday in Newark on two counts each of aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and robbery for two separate incidents in Paterson.

In the past three weeks, Velez has allegedly assaulted two teenagers at knifepoint on the top floor of an office building while doctors and lawyers were working on the floors below. Officials say Velez served 16 years in prison for sex assault and kidnapping, and was only recently released.

Paterson police say the incidents happened on Monday and on September 14, on the sixth floor of 129 Market Street, an historic office building in downtown Paterson less than half a block from City Hall.

Velez allegedly threatened the 18- and 19-year-old girls with a knife and told them he would kill their families if they reported the sexual assaults.

"He has targeted young, attractive women and then asked them to come walk with him," Paterson police Lieutenant Richard Reyes said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Paterson police surrounded 18 Market Street after receiving a tip that Velez worked at a textile factory there. Police evacuated the building and searched for three hours, but Velez apparently escaped.

"We searched the entire location and we brought in the K9 unit and we were unable to locate him," Reyes said.

Police are also investigating whether Velez is also responsible for the sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman on McBride Avenue near the Great Falls on Monday.

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Rochelle Park cop run over by suspect

Web produced by Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness NewsROCHELLE PARK, N.J. (WABC) -- A young police officer tried to approach a local resident in a frightening encounter.

Moments later the officer was thrown in the air, over the man's car, and in that split second the officer had no idea how he would land.

A Rochelle Park home on Madison Avenue was dark Thursday evening as police waited for 52-year-old Lawrence Nelson to return to his New Jersey home.

He is a wanted man now.

"I would advise people not to approach him. Anyone that would run a police officer over with a car should be considered dangerous," said Chief Robert Flannelly, Rochelle Park Police.

At 3 o'clock Thursday afternoon a police officer was trying to question Nelson who had just pulled up in his Toyota.

"The suspect threw the car into reverse, hooking the officer with the mirror, as he pulled out backwards at a high rate of speed, the officer was thrown onto the hood of the vehicle, as the driver went forward the officer was thrown on top of the car onto the windshield, off the trunk and into the street," Flannelly said.

75 feet later, Officer Christopher Rios was on the ground and bits of his uniform were on the street.

The 25-year-old patrolman was treated and released for cuts bruises and trauma.

Meanwhile, Eyewitness News is told all this trouble began at Ray's Pizza in town.

A female worker complained Nelson was making unwanted advances at her and making her very uncomfortable.

Eyewitness News is told he is a former postal worker, perhaps obsessed with the young woman.

Neighbors describe him as paranoid and rather unstable.

"I just wish Larry would get some help, if he needs it, that's what it comes down to," said Anthony Lauria, suspect's next door neighbor.

The former postal worker is well known to police.

Authorities report they have received many complaints for many years about Lawrence Nelson, but this is the first time it ended so violently.

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Wife of Etan Patz murder suspect speaks out

  MOORESTOWN -- The wife of the man who's confessed to killing a New York City boy in 1979 says he has been mentally ill for years.

Rosemary Hernandez told the Daily News through her attorney that Pedro Hernandez has "suffered from delusions."

Police say Hernandez told them he strangled Etan Patz.

Attorney Robert Gottlieb says Hernandez's wife wants the prosecutor to understand the severity of his mental illness.

The DA has yet to bring the case to a grand jury.

Gottlieb says police have repeatedly tried to question Rosemary Hernandez since her husband's arrest outside their Camden, N.J., home last month.

The lawyer says she fully cooperated when he was arrested and now feels harassed.

Police are working to corroborate Pedro Hernandez's claims. His lawyer says he's schizophrenic.

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Suspect arrested in Jersey City rape cases

Web produced by Bob Monek, Eyewitness NewsJERSEY CITY (WABC) -- Authorities in Jersey City say they have arrested a suspect wanted in a pair of brutal rapes.

Antiquion Miller, 33, appeared in court via video link from the Hudson County jail.

The prosecutor here says Miller is the man who viciously beat and raped two women.

The first happened on March 23rd here on Harrison Ave.

Police say he put a 24-year-old woman in a choke hold from behind, dragged her down an alley off Harrison Avenue in Jersey City, beat and raped her for more than 30 minutes.

A similar attack happened this past Sunday. A 34-year old woman was grabbed from behind, pushed into her building on Bergen Avenue near Fairmont Avenue and savagely raped.

A surveillance picture released on Wednesday produced a tip call identifying Miller, investigators said.

Miller sat in a small arraignment room on Friday and listened while the judge explained the charges against him: three counts of aggravated sex assault, robbery and kidnapping.

"Mr. Miller your case will be referred to the grand jury. Your bail will remain at one million dollars cash," the judge said.

For months, women who live and work in the area of the rapes have been scared to go out at night. There was a collective sigh of relief when word spread an arrest had been made.

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Suspect identified in Jersey City rape cases

  Web produced by Bob Monek, Eyewitness NewsJERSEY CITY (WABC) -- Authorities in Jersey City say they have identified a suspect wanted in a pair of brutal rapes.

A surveillance picture released on Wednesday produced a tip call that produced the name of the suspect, investigators said. He is not in custody at this time.

They also linked the same suspects to both rapes for the first time today.

The prosecutor's office says the man attacked a woman from behind and forced her into a building on Bergen Avenue near Fairmont, where he raped her early Sunday morning. Eventually, he was scared off by a neighbor.

The woman told police her attacker was a black man about 5'7, physically fit wearing a short sleeve shirt and a red baseball cap.

He was caught on surveillance camera, shirtless without a cap.

About a half mile away from where Sunday's rape happened, another woman was brutally attacked back in March. She was grabbed from behind and dragged into an alley where she was raped for more than 30 minutes. She gave police a very similar description.

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