Cops: Wayne Man Jumps From Second Floor Window to Avoid Police; Goes to Hoboken, Surrenders

What should have been a simple attempt to serve a criminal warrant turned out to be much more after police say the suspect jumped out of a second floor window.

Wayne police say they arrived at the apartment buildings on Crossing Way to attempt to serve an outstanding criminal warrant to Ivan Vilanova for $893 on a possession of marijuana charge.

But upon arrival, Vilanova’s father, who serves as the apartment building’s superintendent, told police his son “was not there and did not live there,” Wayne Detective Captain Mark McGrath said. The father also stated that he did not know his son’s whereabouts nor his son’s current address.

But while leaving, police were met by a couple who “asked if [police] were looking for someone because they had just witnessed a male ... jump from a second floor balcony” before running towards the garages by the rear of the first building.

The couple described the male as a white or light Hispanic male, with a thin build, who was wearing a black and white hat, black sweater/hoody and blue denim jeans.

Police say they were checking the vicinity when they received a called from headquarters stating someone reported that they observed a male wearing an orange coat laying low in the weeds in front of the first building.

More officers arrived at the scene, while the caller stated that from his balcony he saw “the male party in the orange coat take off the coat after two police vehicles drove away from [the first] building” before running towards the garages in the second building, police said.

After checking the garage and the surrounding areas, police spoke to Vilanova’s father and brother, who “acknowledged that ... Ivan did reside at this residence” but “denied that Ivan was in their residence and had jumped from the balcony,” according to Captain McGrath.

The incident came to a close once headquarters said Vilanova called, stated he was in Hoboken, and was on his way to turn himself in.

“He also emphasized that all officers could leave the area because he would turn himself in,” Captain McGrath said.

Wayne police cleared the scene, but only after setting surveillance “in front of the residence and ... in front of the building.”

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