Strange Incident At Green Farmers Market Last Week

SECAUCUS, NJ — Last Tuesday, Secaucus police were called to Green Farmers Market at Plaza Center after the store owners said a strange man was lurking around the premises.

The young man approached the store owners at around 2 p.m. last Tuesday, Jan. 23 and said he was a police officer and wanted to review their security footage, said store owner Helen Ko. He was whispering the whole time, as if he did not want others to overhear, she said.

He was not in uniform, and did not show a badge, but Ko's husband let him into their back office and allowed him to review much of their security tapes, she said. The man then left, but then continued to lurk around the front and outside of the store. He appeared to be looking for someone or something, Ko said. He was also looking at their security cameras in front of the store.

Helen became suspicious and called the police. That same afternoon, Secaucus police arrested Cristian Marquez-Quesada, 22, of Harrison. He was arrested at 485 Harmon Meadow Blvd. (near the Outback Steakhouse and Marriott Courtyard) after following investigative leads, Secaucus police Capt. Dennis Miller said. He was charged with impersonating a police officer.

Helen said she still has no idea what the man was after. "Maybe he wanted to rob us; I really don't know," she told Patch. She did say it was a very quick arrest by Secaucus police.

Marquez-Quesada was transported to Hudson County Jail.

Photo from inside Green Farmers Market by Carly Baldwin/Patch