Off-duty Paterson police officer is charged with alleged involvement in assault

A Paterson police officer was arrested Wednesday in Totowa on multiple charges. He was arrested without incident by members of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Public Integrity Unit.

Valentin Torres, 33, of Paterson, was charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and third-degree receiving stolen property.

The charges stem from an incident around 2 a.m. Aug. 23 at the Mancora Lounge in Paterson. An investigation by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Public Integrity Unit and police determined that Torres, who was off-duty at the time, conspired with co-defendant Jonathan Cristobal to commit aggravated assault against a victim at the scene. According to authorities, Cristobal had a handgun that he gave to Torres shortly before the attack. Cristobal then punched the victim in the face, knocking out several of his teeth. During the incident, Torres allegedly held the pistol in his right hand before both men fled the scene.

Torres was stopped by police shortly after the attack and arrested on charges of driving under the influence. A subsequent search of the vehicle he was driving uncovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun that had been reported stolen in North Carolina.

Cristobal was arrested Sept. 13 and charged with second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and second-degree possession of firearms by certain persons. He was remanded into custody on September 18 at the state’s request.

If convicted on all counts, Valentin Torres faces a possible total sentence of 16 to 35 years in New Jersey State Prison.