Alarmed and Arrested: Paterson Councilman Busted for False Fire Alert
What happened
Where it happened
- Paterson, Passaic County.
What remains unclear
- The charges follow a Public Integrity Unit investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office.
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announced the arrest of Paterson Councilman Luis Velez, 58, on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. The charges follow a Public Integrity Unit investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office.
Velez was taken into custody without incident in Totowa, NJ. He faces a third-degree charge of False Public Alarms—a felony that carries up to five years in New Jersey State Prison.
The charge stems from a September 8, 2024, incident at Paterson City Hall. Around 2:30 p.m., Velez allegedly activated a fire alarm in the building's basement despite no emergency. Surveillance footage reportedly shows him entering with two women and repeatedly pressing the alarm box until it triggered.
The alarm forced a full evacuation and drew an emergency response from the Paterson Fire Department.
Velez is due in Central Judicial Processing Court on August 22, 2025.
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