PARAMUS — Joseph D. Monticello, 39, of East Hanover, was arrested after authorities say he deliberately fabricated a 911 call that led to a large-scale police response in a quiet Paramus neighborhood.
According to Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti, the incident occurred on Friday, March 7, at approximately 11:40 a.m. when the department’s communications center received an anonymous call reporting that “three to four masked men” were seen loading items into a white van outside a residence. The caller abruptly disconnected, prompting officers to respond swiftly.
Police arriving at the scene found an open garage and basement door. After thoroughly searching the home, officers found no intruders and no signs of forced entry. Additional patrol units canvassed the area for the white van, but no vehicles matching the description were located.
Detective Sergeant Nicholas Luciano led the investigation and interviewed the homeowner, who confirmed he was not home then. A review of home surveillance footage revealed no suspicious activity.
Police ultimately determined the report was false, classifying the incident as a “swatting” — a criminal act where a fake emergency is reported to elicit an urgent response from law enforcement.
Using digital forensic techniques and voice recognition analysis, Detective Sergeant Luciano traced the 911 call back to Monticello. He was charged with third-degree false public alarm and fourth-degree false reports to law enforcement.
This is not Monticello’s first encounter with the law. Records indicate he was arrested for shoplifting in Fairfield in May 2023 and charged with simple assault in Morristown in 2021. His record also includes several traffic offenses and a drug charge from the early 2000s.
