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HILLSDALE, NEW JERSEY —— County prosecutors have announced attempted murder charges against three suspects after a man was assaulted, dragged by a car, thrown from a vehicle, and left with life-threatening injuries on Feb. 13 in the borough.
Hillsdale police had responded to a 911 call that day from a Catherine Court resident reporting an injured male lying in the roadway, Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo said, in a statement. Severely injured, the man had a broken neck and cerebral hemorrhaging, Calo said. He was transferred to an area hospital in a helicopter in critical condition, where he remains, Calo said.
“The investigation revealed that the victim had been physically assaulted by several actors, then dragged by their vehicle from the area of Beechwood Drive in Hillsdale. The victim was subsequently thrown from the vehicle in the cul-de-sac of Catherine Court,” said Calo. “The actors then fled the scene.”
On Feb. 14, authorities arrested Bryan Ortigoza, 19, of Nutley, after searching his residence and a vehicle that was used by him during the assault, Calo said.
On Feb. 16, a 17-year-old juvenile was arrested after a search of his house, Calo said.
On Feb. 20, authorities searched the residence of Alex Juarez, 19, of Nutley, Calo said. They later took him into police custody.
Calo said investigators identified Ortigoza, Juarez and the juvenile as the actors who assaulted the victim.
Ortigoza and Juarez are charged with one count of attempted murder, a first degree crime, and one count of aggravated assault, a second degree crime, Calo said. The juvenile was charged with juvenile delinquency complaints based on conduct that would also constitute attempted murder and aggravated assault, Calo said.
Ortigoza and Juarez were remanded to Bergen County Jail. Records show they are being held there. The juvenile was remanded to Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center, pending a March 6 hearing.