Wild Night in Hoboken Nets DWI & Assault Arrests, Including Off-Duty Cop

Hoboken Police had an eventful Sunday morning, as a number of incidents within the span of an hour kept them busy downtown.

DWI
Just after 2:00 a.m. near 1st Bloomfield Street, Officer Harold Milne observed a red Audi that several pedestrians stated was involved in an accident with a Honda Civic. The driver of the Honda was attempting to park when the driver of the Audi struck his vehicle from behind. Officer Milne approached the Audi and observed two males inside. The driver, Sameer Singh—age 28, of Little Ferry—appeared to be intoxicated.

During his conversation with the driver, Officer Milne was able to observe a white powdery substance at the base of the driver’s nose. He was able to observe a small zip-lock type baggie in plain view containing a white powdery substance of suspected CDS cocaine. A Field Sobriety Test was then conducted which the driver failed to complete. He was placed under arrest and transported to headquarters for processing. A breath sample was taken and he was found to be above the legal limit. Singh has been charged with Driving While Intoxicated, DWI School Zone, Reckless Driving, Possession of CDS in Motor Vehicle, Possession of CDS Cocaine, and Possession of CDS Paraphernalia.

FIGHTS
At approximately 2:56 a.m., a fight broke out in the area of 1st and River Street. As uniformed personnel arrived, SPO Kyle Seper, SPO Joshua Campoverde, Sgt Saverio Binetti observed a group of about 40 people surrounding unconscious male on the ground bleeding from a cut under his eye. He was being tended to by several bystanders along with Officer Cynthia Rivera who was already on scene.

Erik Castro—age 24, of Jersey City—was standing outside of 41 First Street. Castro, an off-duty Jersey City Police Officer, advised the repsonding Hoboken PD that he struck the victim. As the officers spoke with several witnesses, they were advised that both Castro and Kely Nunfio—age 24, of Jersey City—struck the victim several times rendering him unconscious. The victim was also struck by the defendants while still unconscious on the ground, and suffered serious head trauma from the assault. Defendant Castro was charged with Aggravated Assault and released on a summons, while defendant Nunfio was remanded to the Hudson County Rehabilitation Center on the same charges.

Meanwhile, as Officers Matthew Rossi and John Hermann assisted with the street fight on 1st & River, another fight in the area of 84 Washington Street. As the officers arrived, they observed Sgt. Donald Rosso on the ground struggling with David Fetchko—age 23, of Bayonne. They also observed a male lying on the ground unconscious, bleeding from the back of his head. After a brief struggle, the defendant was eventually placed under arrest. Prior to the arrest, Sgt Rosso observed a large fight taking place in the street. While Rosso dispersed the fight, the Fetchko refused to comply and remained on top of the victim, continuously striking the victim in the head and face area with his fist. He was charged with Aggravated Assault, Resisting Arrest, Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer and remanded to the Hudson County Rehabilitation Center. The victim sustained serious head injuries and was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center, while Sgt. Rosso was also evaluated by medical personnel for injuries to his knees and was not able to complete his shift.

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