Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests and indictments of 21-year-old OMAR I. CETINER of Hackensack, NJ; 20-year-old ISLAM A. SALAAM of Hackensack, NJ; and 29-year-old ALAN A. VALDEZ-METZ of Paterson, NJ related to an armed robbery investigation. Prosecutor Musella also announced charges against a 17-year-old juvenile from Paterson, NJ. Also related to this investigation, Prosecutor Musella announced the arrest and indictment of 23-year-old MICHAEL N. FENNER of Hackensack, NJ on CDS-related offenses. The arrests, charges, and indictments are the result of a months-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Hackensack Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Antista.
On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the Hackensack Police Department received information about an armed robbery that occurred days earlier on Sunday, April 27, 2025, near the intersection of East Pleasantview Avenue and Kipp Street in Hackensack. Accordingly, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified, responded to the scene, and initiated a joint investigation with the Hackensack Police Department.
The preliminary investigation revealed that on April 27, 2025, at approximately 6:30 p.m., the victims of an armed robbery were inside of a vehicle that was parked near the intersection of East Pleasantview Avenue and Kipp Street. The suspect vehicle, a white Mercedes Benz coupe, approached, doubled-parked adjacent to the victim’s vehicle, and one of the suspects who was later identified as OMAR I. CETINER, exited brandishing a handgun. Simultaneously, the trunk of the suspect vehicle opened and a second suspect, later identified as a 17-year-old juvenile from Paterson, NJ, exited the trunk, brandished a firearm, and began chasing one of the victims who attempted to flee. Ultimately, the suspects stole a wristwatch, chain, and a bag from the victims.
As the investigation continued over the next three months, detectives learned that ISLAM A. SALAAM acted as a lookout while the armed robbery was taking place. Additionally, detectives identified ALAN A. VALDEZ-METZ who coordinated the armed robbery along with OMAR I. CETINER.
As a result of the investigation, on Thursday, May 8, 2025, OMAR I. CETINER was arrested by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Hackensack Police Department outside his apartment in Hackensack, NJ. Detectives subsequently executed a court-authorized search warrant at CETINER’s residence and recovered suspected marijuana. As a result of the search warrant, MICHAEL N. FENNER was also arrested by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad.
On Thursday, May 29, 2025, with the assistance of the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Hackensack Police Department executed a court-authorized search warrant at the residence of the 17-year-old juvenile in Paterson, NJ. The juvenile was subsequently taken into protective custody.
On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, ISLAM A. SALAAM was located and arrested by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Hackensack Police Department at his residence in Hackensack, NJ. With the assistance of the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team, detectives also executed a court-authorized search warrant at SALAAM’s residence.
On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, ALAN A. VALDEZ-METZ was located and arrested by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Hackensack Police Department in Paterson, NJ.
Pursuant to his arrest on May 8, 2025, OMAR I. CETINER was initially charged with first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); and fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
As the investigation continued, however, on May 23, 2025, OMAR I. CETINER was further charged with first-degree promoting organized street crime, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-30a; third-degree possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance (more than five pounds of marijuana), N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(b); and fourth-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance (marijuana) in a quantity greater than six ounces, N.J.S.A. 2C: 35-10a(3)(b). Moreover, on May 30, 2025, CETINER was additionally charged with first-degree use of a juvenile to commit a criminal offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-9(a). CETINER was remanded to the Bergen County Jail during his initial arrest where he presently remains in custody, pending further court proceedings.
Likewise, pursuant to his arrest that also took place on May 8, 2025, MICHAEL N. FENNER was charged with third-degree possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance (more than one ounce but less than five pounds) N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(11)(b); and fourth-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance (marijuana) in a quantity greater than six ounces, N.J.S.A. 2C: 35-10a(3)(b).
Pursuant to being placed in protective custody on Thursday, May 29, 2025, the 17-year-old juvenile was charged with juvenile delinquency, specifically: first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); and fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4). The 17-year-old juvenile remains in protective custody in a juvenile detention center, pending further court proceedings.
Pursuant to his arrest on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, ISLAM A. SALAAM was charged with first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1). SALAAM was remanded to the Bergen County Jail, made a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ, and was ordered released pending further court action.
Pursuant to his arrest on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, ALAN A. VALDEZ-METZ was charged with first-degree promoting organized street crime, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-30a; and first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2). VALDEZ-METZ was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.
On Thursday, July 24, 2025, a ten-count indictment by a Bergen County Grand Jury was unsealed, charging the adult suspects in this investigation, 21-year-old OMAR I. CETINER of Hackensack, NJ; 20-year-old ISLAM A. SALAAM of Hackensack, NJ; 29-year-old ALAN A. VALDEZ-METZ of Paterson, NJ; and 23-year-old MICHAEL N. FENNER of Hackensack, NJ with the aforementioned offenses. The matter of the 17-year-old juvenile is continuing, pending further action by Bergen County Superior Court Family Law Division.
Prosecutor Mark Musella states that all of the charges against all of the defendants in this case are merely accusations, and that all of the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella thanks the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office for its assistance and coordination in this matter. Moreover, Prosecutor Musella thanks and recognizes the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and Hackensack Police Department for their assistance in this complex investigation. Lastly, he thanks the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team and the Paterson Police Department for their assistance with the apprehension of the various defendants.
