'No One Will Protect You': Passaic Co. Cop Stalked + Threatened To Beat Woman, Report Says

PATERSON, NJ — The Paterson police officer who was charged in a domestic violence case threatened to beat a woman and showed up at her job unannounced, a new report said.

"I hope you sleep with one eye open from now on," Alberto Sanabria texted the woman, according to a report in NJ.com which cited court records.

In August, officials announced the 38-year-old had been indicted on a third-degree charge of terroristic threats, a fourth-degree charge of cyber harassment, and a fourth-degree charge of stalking. Sanabria is currently on administrative leave, a spokesperson for Paterson Police told Patch in August.

According to the report, Sanabria used several different cell phone numbers to send her threatening messages, saying he would beat her and telling her that living in a top-floor apartment "won't help or protect you."

"No one will protect you," he reportedly said.

He also showed up at the woman's house in his Paterson PD uniform to drop off "items that she didn’t want or ask for" two days before Christmas last year, NJ.com reported. The two had dated in the past, according to court records.

Sanabria could be sentenced to eight years in prison if convicted on all charges, according to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes' office.

As a note, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office assumed control of the Paterson Police Department in March of 2023, shortly after police shot and killed 31-year-old Najee Seabrooks. Multiple Paterson officers have also pleaded guilty in a long-running federal corruption probe in recent years, another contributing factor to what AG Matthew Platkin said was an erosion of public trust in the department.

Earlier this year, three Paterson Police officers were also accused of covering up a domestic violence and kidnapping case involving a New York City Police captain.