On Sunday December 13, 2020, the Township of Washington Police Department responded to a Manhattan Avenue residence in the vicinity of Hoover Avenue that was broken into and where a physical altercation took place between the 60-year-old son of the homeowner and the intruder. The intruder left the scene prior to the officers’ arrival. It was reported that the intruder also assaulted the elderly female homeowner. Officers immediately provided medical treatment to the victims. The officers then conducted a thorough and complete investigation. The suspect was identified as Salvatore Navarra, a 49-year-old male from Woodland Park New Jersey. The suspect allegedly broke into the residence to confront the male victim regarding money he was owed and illegal drug activity they were involved in together.
Salvatore Navarra was charge with:
NJSA 2C:15-1A(1) Robbery in the First Degree
NJSA 2C:18-2A(1) Burglary in the Second Degree
NJSA 2C:12-1B(2) Aggravated Assault in the Third Degree
He was arrested and turned over to the custody of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department at the Bergen County Jail.
Chief Richard Skinner would like to stress that incidents such as this are rare in nature and generally not random. They most often occur between parties who are engaged in illegal and criminal activity together.
The Township of Washington is located in the northern portion of Bergen County, which is in the far northeastern corner of New Jersey, 15 miles northwest of New York City. The Washington Twp. Police Department was established by ordinance in April 1934, and expanded, along with the town, in the 1950’s. Presently, the Township of Washington has approximately 10,000 residents who are protected by 20 full-time sworn police officers, under the direction of Police Chief Richard Skinner. Community policing initiatives and educational outreach throughout the community are among the top priorities for the department’s organizational focus.
Chief Richard Skinner states that the charges are merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
