Suspended Jersey City Cops Face Terrorism & Theft Charges, Pending Court Dates

Robert Nunez and Adrian Tejada are set to appear in court for alleged theft and violent threats.Photo byKindel Media/Canva

28-year-old Adrian Tejada and 41-year-old Robert Nunez are accused of terrorizing three men in a Jersey City business and also stealing items during an unauthorized search. Both officers were off duty at the time of the incident, which occurred back in January, and suspended without pay within the same week they were placed on modified duty by the Jersey City Police Department (JCPD) in July.

According to Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez, Tejada and Nunez walked into a private structure on Zabriskie Street and threatened victims inside an establishment on January 28th. A third man, identified as 45-year-old Mario Albero, was seen wielding a baseball bat in another area and associating with both officers during the incident.

All three men were allegedly behaving aggressively toward the victims and threatening bodily harm. Further details about the burglary and if specific items were found in their possession at the time of their arrest are unknown.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office discovered that incident reports indicated a handgun was never reported during further investigation. Therefore, depending on the outcome, one of the men could face an additional illegal weapons charge.

Each offender was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and released in July. Whether Tejada and Nunez will return to duty or face termination is uncertain and their association with Albero is unclear. All three men are facing the following charges:

Albero is charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, the weapon being a baseball bat, burglary and unlawful possession of a weapon (the baseball bat). Tejada and Nunez both face charges of terroristic threats and burglary. – Courtesy of Hudson County View

In addition, the men must appear in court although specific dates for each offender have yet to be confirmed.

This case has sparked questions among the general public regarding the professional conduct that civilians expect of law enforcement officers and the laws that are implemented to minimize corruption and misconduct. On the other hand, the actions taken are necessary to maintain integrity within departments, trust among civilians, and respect within communities.