Hoboken Man Pointed Gun At Rideshare Driver, Police Say

HOBOKEN, NJ — A man who pointed a gun at a rideshare driver in Hoboken last month was apprehended on Monday with the help of the SWAT Team, police said.

Preston Dortch, 52, of Hoboken was arrested on Monday with the assistance of the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team.

Police said that on Feb. 13, a rideshare driver headed to the 300 block of Adams Street to return a cell phone to a passenger who had left it behind.

"During the interaction, the passenger pointed a gun at the driver’s head," police said. No shorts were fired.

The suspect took the phone and returned home, police said.

A follow-up investigation by the Hoboken Detective Bureau, led by Det. Jesse Castellano, identified Dortch as the suspect the next day.

During the arrest and search on Monday, officers found a firearm and non-lethal bullets called pepper ball rounds, police said.

Dortch was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, police said.

He was taken to the Hudson County Correctional Facility, police said.

“I want to express my gratitude to Detective Castellano, and the entire Detective Bureau for their diligent and swift work identifying and apprehending Dortch, as well as the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and SWAT team for their roles in ensuring a safe resolution,” said Hoboken Police Chief Steven Aguiar. “The Hoboken Police Department has zero tolerance for any threat of gun violence, and we are committed to taking every necessary action to ensure the continued safety and security of our community.”

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