Police: Pair Falsely Report Armed Robbery At Willowbrook Mall

Two Paterson residents were charged with creating a false police report and several drug-related offenses after they allegedly told Wayne police they were robbed while outside of the Willowbrook Mall Tuesday, authorities said.

Wayne police responded to a report of an armed robbery at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday in the Willowbrook Mall parking lot, said Capt. Laurence Martin.

Samir Younus allegedly told police he was robbed in the parking lot at his car by two men who threw him to the pavement, Martin said.

After allegedly throwing and holding Younus down, the men yelled, ”If you move, I’ll shoot you,” and took Younus’ cell phone and charger from his car, police said.

The men allegedly ran to a black Mercedes Benz or Chrysler and fled the scene; Maria Derenzin-Cossio reportedly told police she yelled at the men to get away from her and Younus, Martin said.

Surveillance footage of the parking lot that police reviewed “did not substantiate” the story Younus and Derenzin-Cossio told, police said.

Wayne detectives who were processing the car as the crime scene and found several thousand dollars of marijuana packaged for distribution, a digital scale, and plastic baggies in it, Martin said.

Younus and Derenzin-Cossio, both 20, were charged with possession of marijuana over one ounce, possession with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, and creating a false police report. They were released on summonses with court dates pending.