On the same day that Hudson County Sheriff Frank X. Schillari was touting the arrests of 32 people wanted on warrants in “Operation Spring Roundup,” the Jersey City Police Department was responding to a report of shots fired in the rapidly-gentrifying Lafayette neighborhood.

The county-wide warrant sweep involved individuals who had failed to appear, violated probation, and/or willfully failed to pay support.

The Hudson County Sheriff is responsible for process service, writs, court orders, foreclosures, court executions, and criminal warrant arrests as well as security at Hudson County’s courthouses, Hudson Plaza, county parks, and other county venues.

Just hours before Schillari announced the arrests, the Jersey City Police Department was investigating a shooting in the vicinity of Dr. Lena Edwards Park in the Lafayette neighborhood. According to social media posts, several people reported hearing gunshots at around 10:36 a.m.

“I hear two shots which i thought was construction pounding, until I went to the window and looked outed and saw police cars all over blocking Whiton Street with police tape. The police were searching all over looking for a weapon or bullets and rang my bell and asked if the blink camera was working and of cause it hasn’t worked because of wi-fi connect issue” wrote John M. on nextdoor.com.

A report that a delivery worker had been wounded could not be confirmed.

In a message to the Jersey City Times, a resident complained about lax security in the park, saying that parents fear taking their children there due to open drug dealing and use.

Jersey City’s spokeswoman had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.

The gunshots came a day after a fatal early morning shooting near New Jersey City University. The killing represented the second of the year.

In a press conference last year, Mayor Steve Fulop trumpeted a declining number of “shooting,” a term he did not define.

Caught up in Sheriff Schillari’s warrant sweep were the following Jersey City residents.

  • Michael Kellman, 45 years old from Jersey City, NJ owed $1,7169.96 in support.
  • Hakeem White, 45 years old from Jersey City, NJ owed $7,140.53 in support.
  • Xavier Feliciano, 26 years old of Jersey City NJ for Possession of CDS and Cruelty and Neglect of Children
  • Ronald Pratt- Rodrigurez, 22 years old of Jersey City NJ for Hindering Apprehension
  • Girgis FernsisFandus, 36 years old of Jersey City NJ for Criminal Sexual Contact and Hindering Apprehension
  • Saladin M Blunt, 52 years old of Jersey City NJ for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender
  • Amar Ramkissoon, 23 years old of Jersey City NJ for Harassment
  • Jessica Adams, 21 years old of Jersey City NJ for Possession of a weapon (Firearm) for unlawful purpose
  • Joshua Simmons, 34 years old of Jersey City NJ for Possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, Aggravated Assault, Robbery by Force, Criminal Attempt, and Possession of a Handgun
  • Jose Cotton, 54 years old of Jersey City NJ for Burglary and Credit Card Fraud
  • Demetri Dominick, 26 years old of Jersey City NJ for Burglary and Theft