A coordinated effort by the Mahwah and Upper Saddle River Police Departments led to the capture of Carlos M. Martinez Amaya, a Rockland County resident, for a series of commercial burglaries in the area.
Martinez Amaya is facing charges for a series of break-ins, including at the Mahwah Bar & Grill, Ernie’s Ice Cream, and the Fardale Deli & Mini Mart – which was burgled twice. He is also implicated in other commercial burglaries in Upper Saddle River, Franklin Township, and even a charge of brandishing a firearm at an individual.
On the night of March 31, authorities reported minimal takings from the burglary at Ernie’s Ice Cream on Franklin Turnpike and the Fardale Mini-Mart on Wyckoff Avenue. Surveillance footage placed Martinez Amaya at both scenes, as per Mahwah Police Capt. Guido Bussinelli.
In addition, the suspect was seen in surveillance video from an April 13 break-in at Elmer’s Country Store at East Saddle River Road and Lake Street in Upper Saddle River, and a June 1 incident at the Mahwah Bar and Grill on Island Road. Although an alarm seemed to have deterred him during that instance, Martinez Amaya was undeterred, later caught on camera forcibly entering the Fardale mini-mart once more on June 16.
Through their combined efforts, detectives from both jurisdictions managed to identify the suspect. When Detective Sgt. Eric Larsen and Detective Christopher Fasulo approached his last known residence in Mahwah, they found that Martinez Amaya had relocated. Furthermore, it emerged that he had brandished a firearm at someone prior to his departure.
Following the procurement of a warrant, Martinez Amaya was arrested by Spring Valley police and subsequently transferred to Bergen County Jail. He was booked last Thursday, Sept. 14, which incidentally marked his 23rd birthday.
As of Monday, Martinez Amaya remains in custody, facing charges that include aggravated assault, weapons offenses, and multiple counts of burglary and theft.