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Police Chief Dean Ackermann joined Sgts. Bryan Scott and Scott McGovern after they caught 52-year-old James Zottarelli just after 10 a.m. Monday in front of the Elmwood Avenue home where police said he’s been staying.
Zottarelli has a criminal history dating back nearly 25 years, with dozens of arrests for drug-related crimes, as well as a host of parole violations.
He apparently is homeless and had been staying with Lisa Zottarelli (aka Lisa Jost), 53, who was detained by employees and arrested in the Rock Road store, the chief said.
Scott is the patrol tour commander and McGovern the department’s traffic safety supervisor “who also happened to be in the area and jumped in to assist,” he said.
James Zottarelli, who was wanted on warrants by Port Authority and Fair Lawn police, and Lisa Zottarelli were both taken to the Bergen County Jail pending an appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, Ackermann said.
The $726.18 worth of stolen beauty products were recovered and returned to CVS, he said.
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