Pubdate: Sat, 26 Apr 2014
Source: Record, The (Hackensack, NJ)
Copyright: 2014 North Jersey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.northjersey.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/44
Author: Richard Cowen

UNDERCOVER PARAMUS COP SHOT DURING DRUG STING LEAVES HOSPITAL

An undercover Paramus policeman who was injured Tuesday in a 
buy-and-bust operation at a Garfield shopping plaza was released from 
the hospital on Saturday.

"We are pleased to announce that our police officer who was shot and 
wounded earlier this week has been released from the hospital," the 
Paramus Police Department said in Facebook post. "On behalf of the 
Paramus Police Department and PBA Local 186, we would like to thank 
everyone for their support during this difficult time."

The officer, whose identity has been withheld by the county 
Prosecutor's Office to protect his undercover status, was shot in the 
hip and the lower leg on Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot of a 
shopping center on Passaic Street. The officer was attempting to make 
a $400 purchase of marijuana from three men as part of a sting operation.

He was allegedly shot during a robbery attempt by a suspect 
identified as Angel Vasquez, 25, of Passaic. Vasquez was subsequently 
shot by cops and has been charged with attempted murder. He is due in 
court on Monday.

Two other suspects -- Patrick Morel, 21, of Clifton, and Melvin 
Guzman, 19, of Garfield -- have been charged as accomplices with 
first-degree robbery. They are being held in the Bergen County Jail 
in lieu of $750,000 bail.

In the same Facebook posting, the Paramus police asked residents to 
pray for Daniel Breslin, the Bergen County police officer who was 
critically injured on April 19.

Breslin was on duty and parked in a police sport utility vehicle on 
the shoulder of Route 46 in Lodi when it was struck from behind by 
Michael Ettz, 36, a Lodi High School teacher. Ettz was arrested and 
charged with driving while intoxicated.
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