Man Arrested In Hoboken With Machete At Midnight

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken police arrested a man with a machete shortly after midnight on Thursday, blocks from the Hoboken train station, they said in a release.

Police said on Thursday at 12:01 a.m., a woman flagged down Officer Daniel Grossi at the south end of the city's main street, at First and Washington streets, near City Hall.

The woman pointed to a man and said he had a machete, police said.

Grossi saw the male holding a machete in his right hand, police said. Grossi displayed his service weapon and ordered the male to drop the machete.

Police say the man complied and was ordered to sit on the ground.

Six officers responded as backup: Officers Joseph Spano, Officer Tyler Soto, Officer Geovanni Cruzado, Officer Marvin DeJesus, Officer Brandon Fitzgibbons, and Sergeant Roary Miller.

Police said the man was identified as Salvatore Spadafora, 54, of Jersey City.

Police said they determined that Spadafora was in an argument with another man a block away. Police said that allegedly, Spadafora "produced a machete from his pants resulting in the unknown male to run away north on Washington Street," and he chased him.

Spadafora was placed under arrest and charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, possession of weapons for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of weapons, and criminal mischief.

Spadafora’s charges were placed on a warrant and he was brought to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.

Defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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