A Paterson police officer was arrested on multiple charges on Wednesday in Totowa. He was taken into custody 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 August 23 incident at approximately 2:00 a.m. at the Mancora Lounge in Paterson. An investigation by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Public Integrity Unit and police revealed that Torres, who was off duty at the time, conspired with co-defendant Jonathan Cristobal to commit aggravated assault against a victim at the location. According to authorities, Cristobal was in possession of a handgun, which he handed to Torres moments before the assault. Cristobal then punched the victim in the face, knocking out several teeth. During the incident, Torres allegedly held the handgun in his right hand before both men fled the scene…