This section is based on data provided to the Northern Valley Press by neighborhood police departments. Due to pending court appearances and other variations, the following information shall be read in “press time” context.
ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—On Jan. 31, an adult female came into police headquarters and reported that she was part of the night shift maintenance and cleaning crew that services the Dwight Morrow High School. She stated that she located and retrieved a hidden video camera in a bathroom in the school that she uses when teachers and students are no longer around.
The woman was able to review what was on the camera and saw that her private areas had been taped. She also found a clip on the camera showing her boss, head custodian Francisco Javier Lopez-Martinez, installing the camera. Shortly thereafter, Lopez-Martinez contacted her asking for the
camera back and she refused.
Searching For The Suspect
As a result, an arrest warrant for Lopez-Martinez, a 59-year-old Bergenfield man, was obtained that same evening and detectives began searching for him.
During that search, they encountered his family at the high school. They had gone there concerned for his safety. According to those family members, Lopez-Martinez was aware he was being sought, apologized for what he had done and threatened to harm himself.
Shortly after that, detectives obtained information that he was hiding somewhere on the Dwight Morrow High School and adjoining Janis E. Dismus Middle School campuses. Lopez-Martinez, through his job requirements, had full access to all of Englewood’s public schools, both inside and out. The two campuses were sealed off and a search began that lasted several hours.
During the search, Englewood Patrol Officers and detectives, a school official and a K-9 Unit from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department made several short and intermittent contacts with Lopez-Martinez, who continued to elude officers, threaten suicide and refuse surrender.
Then, at approximately 3:18 a.m., Lopez-Martinez was spotted on the high school’s north side by at least two family members and, then, Englewood Officer Ronald Layne. The family members were able to make physical contact with Lopez-Martinez first, at which time they grabbed him until Layne could arrive. When he did, the officer saw that Lopez-Martinez was struggling to get away while holding a handgun.
Officer Layne was able to wrestle the gun from his hand and handcuff him with the assistance of some of the other nearby officers. No one was injured during the incident and the gun was determined to be an airsoft weapon designed to appear exactly like a large caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Lopez-Martinez, who had originally been charged with one count of third degree invasion of privacy for installing the hidden camera, was additionally charged with second degree burglary, second degree possession of a weapon for unlawful use, third degree illegal possession of a handgun on school grounds, third degree hindering apprehension, fourth degree obstruction of justice and fourth degree resisting arrest by flight.
Lopez-Martinez was initially sent to New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus, under police guard, where he received a psychological evaluation.
After he was cleared, he was transported to the Bergen County Jail for his first appearance in CJP Court. His charges will be disposed of by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
As a result of this incident, all of the schools that Lopez-Martinez had access to were checked for other similar devices by both police and school officials and, to date, nothing else was found.
There is no evidence suggesting that any children or school staff were recorded. Preliminarily, evidence suggests that this single victim was the only individual targeted; however, the investigation is ongoing.