By: Richard L. Smith
Police in North Bergen say two men are facing multiple charges after officers quickly responded to a reported armed robbery attempt at a business along the 6900 block of Kennedy Boulevard on December 23. 
The arrests followed a patrol response documented by Police Officer Frank Dubicki Jr., with additional support from members of the department’s Patrol Division and Criminal Investigations Unit, according to a statement released by the department.
Authorities said the investigation began when a business owner flagged down Officer Dubicki in the area of Kennedy Boulevard and reported that two men had entered his establishment armed with a knife and a handgun and attempted to rob him.
The victim directed officers to a nearby gas station, where one of the suspects was found seated inside a pickup truck.
Officer Dubicki ordered the individual, later identified as Carlos J. Hernandez, of Wallington, NJ, to exit the vehicle.
Hernandez was taken into custody without incident.
A short time later, the second suspect, Crismar Vasquez, of West New York, NJ, approached the scene on foot and was also detained without incident.
Hernandez was initially charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, unlawful possession of a handgun without a permit, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, certain persons not to possess weapons or ammunition, and openly carrying a handgun.
Vasquez was charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Both men were issued complaint warrants and lodged at the Hudson County Correctional Center.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Unit later reviewed surveillance footage and obtained a court-authorized search warrant for the vehicle.
On December 25, Guttenberg Police detectives assisting in the investigation recovered a Ruger Max 9 handgun with a high-capacity magazine, along with hollow-point and full-metal jacket ammunition, and a Mace pepper gun.
Following the recovery of additional evidence, new charges were filed.
Hernandez was additionally charged with possession of an imitation firearm for unlawful purposes, while Vasquez was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun without a permit, possession of a high-capacity magazine, possession of hollow-point ammunition, violations of firearm regulatory provisions, and certain persons not to possess weapons or ammunition.
North Bergen Police credited the coordinated response and investigative efforts of the officers and detectives involved in the case.