On Patrol, Red Bank Police Spot Stolen Car; Arrest Three

RED BANK, NJ — Borough police patrolling the Montgomery Terrace apartments after a shooting there Tuesday made unrelated arrests Wednesday when they discovered a stolen car at the complex.

On Wednesday, July 26, at about 10 p.m., Patrolman Preston Mellaci was patrolling in the area of Montgomery Terrace Housing Authority as part of an increased police presence after the recent shooting, Red Bank Police Capt. Michael Frazee reported in a news release.

While on patrol, Mellaci saw a Jeep Grand Cherokee bearing Pennsylvania registration (MCG1536) parked along the side of the road and occupied, police said.

After a random license plate check, Mellaci learned that the vehicle was reported stolen out of Massachusetts. Local police dispatch also confirmed the vehicle was stolen, police said.

Mellaci was then joined by Officers Dengel, Cahill and Shea who all converged on the vehicle and conducted a felony stop, police said.

All occupants of the vehicle were arrested without incident. This incident does not appear to be linked to the shooting, police said.

The persons in the Jeep are identified and charged with the following offenses, according to police:

• Jonothan Ramos-De La Rosa, 39, Bronx, New York: Receiving stolen property, hindering prosecution and providing a false government identification.
• Juan Paulino-Guerrero, 41, Bronx, New York: Receiving stolen property, hindering prosecution and providing a false government identification.
• Yorgi Quezada-Paulino, 41, Bronx, New York: Receiving stolen property.

The men were charged with receiving stolen property because they were found in possession of a stolen car, police said.

The three men were transferred to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold.

Massachusetts authorities are investigating the actual theft of the Jeep, police noted.

"This was great police work, officers learned that the vehicle was reported stolen and moved quickly while it remained parked to avoid the possibility of a pursuit," police said.