BCPO: FOUR INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED AFTER ENGLEWOOD, NJ SHOOTING INCIDENT

Press release from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office:

Maureen Parenta

2022-03-04

For Immediate Release:

March 4, 2022

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of LAVAR PROCTOR (DOB: 8/29/1977; married; unemployed) of 410 Saint Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY; DASIA L. BETHEA (DOB: 2/17/1995; single; unemployed) of 41 E. Forest Avenue, Englewood, NJ; DANA N. PROCTOR (DOB: 6/13/1977; married; unemployed) of 348 Rankin Circle, McDonough, Georgia; and TIERNEY THOMPSON (DOB: 12/11/1973; single; unemployed) of 250 West 146th street, Apartment 1P, New York, NY on charges related to a shooting incident in Englewood, NJ.

The arrests are the result of an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Englewood Police Department under the direction of Officer in Charge Deputy Chief Thomas Greeley.

On Thursday, February 3, 2022, the Englewood Police Department received a 911 call reporting gunshots fired in the area of 41 E. Forest Avenue, Englewood, NJ (Forest Park Gardens). Responding officers were advised that there was an altercation involving multiple adults with a 2-year-old child, and a gun shot was fired. Shortly thereafter, a 27-year-old male victim with a gunshot wound to his leg arrived at Englewood Hospital, where he was treated for his injury and released.

An investigation conducted by detectives from the Englewood Police Department and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit revealed that LAVAR PROCTOR shot the victim. The investigation also revealed that LAVAR PROCTOR, DASIA BETHEA, and DANA PROCTOR endangered the welfare of the 2-year-old child. DASIA BETHEA, DANA PROCTOR and TIERNEY THOMPSON also hindered the apprehension of LAVAR PROCTOR.

On Friday, February 4, 2022, DASIA BETHEA was arrested and charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(2); and third-degree hindering the apprehension of another, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3a(7). She was remanded to the Bergen County Jail and released on her own recognizance.

On Friday, February 4, 2022, DANA PROCTOR was arrested and charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(2); and third-degree hindering the apprehension of another, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3a(7). She was remanded to the Bergen County Jail and released on her own recognizance.

On Friday, February 4, 2022, TIERNEY THOMPSON was arrested and charged with third-degree hindering the apprehension of another, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3a(7) and released on her own recognizance.

On Wednesday, March 2, 2022, LAVAR PROCTOR was arrested in Bronx, NY and charged with first-degree attempted murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1) / 2C:11-3a(1); first-degree possession of a handgun while having a prior conviction, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5j; second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-7.1a(3). He was also charged by the New York Police Department with possession of narcotics with intent to sell, criminal possession of a controlled dangerous substance and unlawful wearing of a body vest. He was remanded to the Rikers Island Jail pending extradition.

Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he would like to thank the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and Englewood Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.

This press release was produced by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. The views expressed here are the author’s own.