Paterson Cops Detained People, Stole Money From Them: US Attorney

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — Two Paterson police officers were arrested Wednesday for allegedly violating the civil rights of two people during a motor vehicle stop earlier this year.

Jonathan Bustios, 28, and Eudy Ramos, 31, both of Paterson, were arrested by federal agents and charged with conspiring to deprive individuals of civil rights, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

An investigation revealed that Bustios allegedly accepted a firearm in exchange for reducing the charges filed against someone who was arrested, Carpenito said.

Bustios and Ramos allegedly stopped motor vehicles, detained the occupants, and searched the vehicles without any justification. They also allegedly took money and others items without justification before releasing people.

For example, on Feb. 20, while on duty, Bustios pulled over a BMW and stopped behind the vehicle, while Ramos stopped his police car in front of it, Carpenito said. Bustios and Ramos exited their police cars and proceeded to search the front and back of the BMW and the trunk. Bustios and Ramos also detained and searched the two occupants of the BMW and put them into the backseat of Ramos’ police car, the attorney said.

After searching the BMW, Bustios left the area, drove for 10 minutes, then stopped his police car and took out a white plastic bag that was filled with cash and also took out a firearm, Carpenito said. He then called Ramos, after which Ramos released the two detained occupants of the BMW and drove to meet Bustios. Bustios passed a portion of the recovered cash to Ramos through the window of Bustios’ police car, he said.

Bustios and Ramos were scheduled to appear Wednesday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court.

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