Men Broke Into Meadowlands Plaza Hotel Room While Guests Slept: Police

SECAUCUS, NJ — Secaucus Police say two men armed with a gun broke into a hotel room at Meadowlands Plaza Hotel in February. The men claimed they were police officers, and demanded cash from the sleeping hotel guests.

Police say they forced their way into one of the hotel rooms (they did not know the victims) at 4:22 a.m. on Feb. 8 (a Thursday), pointed a gun at the people sleeping in the bed, said they were police and demanded money.

One victim alleges they pulled out a handgun and threatened to “pistol whip” the victims. The two men fled with cash from the victim, and some of their personal belongings.

Secaucus Police were called there for a 911 call of an armed robbery. After a five-month-long investigation, members of the Secaucus Police Department Detective Division and Anti-Crime Unit identified the suspects as Cristopher Molina Herrera, 30, and Rikelvin DeLeon Diaz, 33, both of Newark.

Secaucus Police detectives arrested Molina Herrera at his place of employment in Clifton on June 27. The next day, June 28, Secaucus Police arrested Diaz at his place of employment in Elizabeth.

Both arrests took place without incident.

“I am especially proud of the investigative work of my detectives who work tirelessly to solve these crimes committed by individuals who come to Secaucus solely to commit nefarious acts,” Chief Dennis Miller said. “The Secaucus Police Department is committed to exhaust every investigative lead in pursuit of justice for any victim of a crime that takes place in Secaucus.”

Both men were charged with Robbery [2C:15-1a(1)] and Conspiracy to Commit Robbery [2C:5-2/2C:15-1a(1)]. They remain at the Hudson County Jail.

Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to call the Secaucus Police Detective Division at (201) 330-2052 or detectivedivsion@secaucusnjpolice.gov