By: Richard L. Smith
Three Essex County Sheriff’s officers are facing criminal charges after prosecutors say they stole items during the execution of a narcotics search warrant in East Orange.
According to Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, the charges stem from a January 10, 2023, search at an apartment on Park Avenue, where 470 Park Avenue resident Mr. Kirk Mansook was arrested on minor drug offenses.
While Mansook was later released, he reported that several belongings—including multiple boxes of high-end sneakers and a designer belt—were missing when he returned home.
An investigation revealed that Officer Jimmy Rodriguez, 39, of Kearny, and Officer Fabian Caicedo, 45, of East Rutherford, were seen on surveillance video removing items from the apartment, placing them into bags, and loading them into a sheriff’s office vehicle.
Prosecutors say Rodriguez and Officer Erik Udvarhely, 44, of Belleville, later transferred the items into their personal vehicles.
Rodriguez is charged with third-degree theft and fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records.
Udvarhely is charged with third-degree receiving stolen property. Caicedo is charged with third-degree theft.
All three officers have been suspended pending the outcome of the case, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.