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<p>HAZLETON &#8212; Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the theft of two tractor trailers full of Monster Energy drinks from Hazle Township, police announced Thursday.</p><p>Five Rivers Trucking, located on CAN DO Expressway in Hazle Township, reported on Sunday the theft of two tractor trailers loaded with cases of the popular sports energy drink &#8220;Monster Energy&#8221; during the overnight hours. The total value of the heist was estimated at approximately $140,000.</p><p>Hazleton police Detective Anthony White, who is also a member of the PSP Auto Theft Task Force, identified the suspects as Edward Perez, 44, of New York, New York, and Julio Ricardo, 49, of Paterson, New Jersey. They have been charged with receiving stolen property, among other related offenses.</p><p>The two suspects were arrested on Wednesday, and proceeds from the heist recovered thanks to a joint cooperative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies from across state lines, according to a prepared statement from Jerry Speziale, chief of police in both the city of Hazleton and the city of Paterson, New Jersey.</p><p>Speziale said the arrests were the culmination of a collaborative effort between various agencies including the Hazleton City Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police Auto Theft Task Force, the New Jersey State Police, the Paterson Police Department, New York Police Department and the FBI.</p><p>&#8220;It is a testament to the law enforcement prowess of all the agencies involved that this matter was brought to such a rapid conclusion and the stolen property quickly recovered,&#8221; he said.</p><p>The arrests occurred when investigators from all the involved agencies conducted multiple raids at two wholesale warehouses in the Bronx, New York, and three business establishments in Paterson, New Jersey. As a result, 32 of the 46 pallets of Monster Energy drinks were recovered along with an additional 14 pallets of suspected stolen goods, according to Speziale.</p><p>White said Ricardo allegedly purchased the energy drinks from the thieves who stole it, and Perez allegedly purchased some of the drinks from Ricardo. He said police are working on finding the actual thieves.</p><p>&#8220;A tip led us to Hunts Point in the Bronx and we basically worked the investigation back from that point,&#8221; White said. &#8220;Monster Energy was very involved in assisting with the investigation and that helped tremendously.&#8221;</p><p>Speziale said the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated. He noted that the apprehension of the two suspects and recovery of the stolen property &#8220;highlights the nexus between the cities of Hazelton and Paterson, New Jersey, through the Interstate 80 corridor.&#8221;</p><p>Speziale began his employment in Paterson as acting police director in July 2014. <a href="http://tlgets.me/jdo" target="_blank">Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat hired him as interim poice chief at the beginning of his term this year</a>.</p><p>Cusat has said Speziale is using accumulated vacation time from Paterson and would spend three or four days a week in Hazleton as interim police chief, or as needed.</p><p>Speziale has said he became interested in working in Hazleton back in 2012 when then Mayor Joe Yannuzzi conducted a national search for a police chief. Speziale applied but later withdrew because of family medical reasons.</p><p>&#8220;Hazleton has a lot of similarities to the City of Paterson. There&#8217;s definitely a nexus between the two cities,&#8221; Speziale said.</p><p>Cusat has noted that Hazleton police have arrested suspects wanted in Paterson, and vise versa.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_Speziale_Jerry.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Speziale </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_Speziale_Jerry.jpg</photo0><caption0>Speziale </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_Monster4WEB.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Some of the Monster Energy drinks recovered Wednesday in Bronx, New York, from a theft Sunday in Hazleton Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_Monster4WEB.jpg</photo1><caption1>Some of the Monster Energy drinks recovered Wednesday in Bronx, New York, from a theft Sunday in Hazleton Township. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Steve Mocarsky</p><p>smocarsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Steve Mocarsky at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @TLSteveMocarsky.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Arrests made in $140K Monster Energy theft that originated in Hazle Township, ended in Bronx, NY