Two men pleaded guilty Monday to their roles in the attempted robbery and shooting of an undercover police officer in Garfield in 2014.
TRENTON -- Two men pleaded guilty Monday to their roles in the attempted robbery and shooting of an undercover police officer in Garfield in 2014.
Rafael Vasquez, 26, of Passaic (left), and two others a Melvin Garcia, 20 of Garfield (top right), and Patrick Morel, 22, of Clifton, were indicted Wednesday after a drug sting turned violent, state authorities said. (Courtesy of N.J. Attorney General's Office) Melvin Guzman, 20, of Garfield and Patrick Morel, 23, of Clifton, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery before Bergen County Superior Court Judge Susan J. Steele.
The state will recommend that they serve eight years in prison under their plea agreements, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said. A grand jury in April had indicted Guzman and Morel on charges of conspiracy, weapons possession and aggravated assault, in addition to attempted robbery.
Sentencing for Guzman and Morel is scheduled for Feb. 11.
A third defendant, Rafael Vasquez, 27, of Passaic, also faces attempted robbery and weapons charges. He is also charged with attempted murder as the alleged gunman.
"We'll make sure that everyone responsible faces stern punishment for this violent incident in which a police officer was nearly killed," Hoffman said.
An undercover officer for the Bergen County Prosecutor's office allegedly arranged to buy marijuana from the three men outside of a Marshall's store in Garfield. Guzman, Morel and Vasquez instead planned to rob the presumed buyer, bringing a handgun and a bag of oregano in place of marijuana, prosecutors said.
While Guzman sat in the officer's car to make the deal, Vasquez allegedly approached the car with a gun and demanded the officer's money. The officer and Vasquez fought while members of the prosecutor's narcotics task force converged.
Vasquez allegedly shot the undercover officer in the hip and ankle during the struggle and pointed his gun at other officers while fleeing, prosecutors said. Two task force officers shot Vasquez in the left shoulder, ear and hip. He and Guzman were arrested.
Morel drove away but was later arrested on the Garden State Parkway.
Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
