Arrest made in unprovoked Englewood Cliffs stabbing incident

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 29-year-old Harshkumar H. Patel of Piscataway, on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and possession of a weapon.

The arrest followed an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Englewood Cliffs Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Henkelman.

The incident occurred on Friday, June 14, 2024, at approximately 5:34 p.m. when the Englewood Cliffs Police Department responded to a reported stabbing on Sylvan Avenue.

Officers arriving at the scene found a 30-year-old victim who had been stabbed multiple times while seated in a vehicle. The victim was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center, where they were treated and subsequently released.

An investigation was immediately initiated by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Englewood Cliffs Police Department.

The investigation revealed that the suspect approached the victim as they were exiting a parking lot on Sylvan Avenue, attacking the victim through the open window of the vehicle. The suspect fled the scene following the attack. Further investigation determined that the attack was unprovoked and that the suspect was a stranger to the victim.

On Saturday, June 15, 2024, detectives identified Harshkumar H. Patel as the suspect.

Patel was located and arrested outside his residence in Piscataway, New Jersey, by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Englewood Cliffs Police Department, with assistance from the New Jersey State Police Fugitive Task Force and Piscataway Police Department.

Patel has been charged with the following offenses:

• One count of first-degree attempted murder (N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2/11-3a)
• One count of second-degree aggravated assault (N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1B(1))
• One count of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose (N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4D)
• One count of fourth-degree possession of a weapon (N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5D)

Patel is currently held in police custody at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus, awaiting his first court appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.

Musella emphasized that the charges are merely accusations and that Patel is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

He also expressed gratitude to the Englewood Cliffs Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, the Piscataway Police Department, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.