Paterson Man Charged After Bedroom Break-in

A Paterson man was arrested last week in Cedar Grove after he pried the screen off a resident's window and entered her bedroom, police said.

Miguel Cortes, 26, was charged with burglary, stalking and hindering apprehension by providing false information to police after the incident, which police say happened just before 5 a.m. on Oct. 6.

The alleged incident occurred at the home of a 20-year-old resident, who told police Cortes was a former co-worker who had been harassing her at work and stalking her. She called the 9-1-1 when she noticed someone at her window attempting to enter.

When police arrived at the scene, the alleged victim exited the residence, followed by Cortes, who police took into custody without incident.

During processing, police determined Cortes was not a United States Citizen, and was possibly in the country illegally. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was notified, and issued a detainer for Cortes to establish his immigration status.

Bail for Cortes was set at $25,000 for the criminal charges, and he was transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark pending Superior Court arraignment and ICE determination.