Teaneck Man With Machete Arrested In Fort Lee Burglary Spree, Police Say

A Teaneck man with a machete on him was arrested and charged with multiple counts of burglary Wednesday, police said.

Police officers were called to 2300 Route 4 West on a report of a man with gun; the caller said they saw the black handle of a handgun in the person’s waistband, said Capt. Stanley Zon.

Detective Thomas Keelen approached Sharod R. Benjamin who circled around Keelen, positioned his body in a fighting stance and refused to take his hands out of his pockets, Zon said.

Keelen told Benjamin several times to take his hands out of his pockets, but he refused and Keelen and Sgt. Cory Horton held his arms while Officer Dillon Turner frisked him for weapons, Zon said.

Turner found a machete with an 18-inch long blade Benjamin was hiding in his waistband, Zon said.

Police found proceeds from five recent commercial burglaries in Fort Lee while searching Benjamin after he was arrested, Zon said. Detectives had been investigating the burglaries.

Police determined during a follow-up investigation that Benjamin was responsible for five burglaries and various thefts near 2000 Bigler St. from Oct. 19 and Oct. 26.

Benjamin was arrested by Fort Lee Municipal Court Judge John DeSheplo and is currently housed in the Bergen County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail, police said.

Anyone with more information on the burglaries who may have seen Benjamin or someone matching his description should contact the Fort Lee Police Department’s Detective Squad at 201-592-3510.