MOONACHIE, NJ — A man and woman have been charged with filing a false report after authorities say a home invasion and shooting never occurred.
Juan B. Rodriguez-Santos, 30, of Moonachie, and Lisa M. Palacio, 29, of Moonachie, were arrested following an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Moonachie Police Department.
Police received a 9-1-1 call at approximately 6:42 a.m. on Oct. 14 from the couple requesting assistance at their Moonachie residence.
Responding officers found Rodriguez-Santos suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg.
He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, treated and released.
Rodriguez-Santos initially told officers he had suffered a stab wound, but later reported that an unknown masked male entered the home, attempted to rob him and shot him once in the leg with a handgun.
Palacio initially told law enforcement she knew an individual had entered the residence and shot Rodriguez-Santos, but later said she was unaware of what happened.
Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and Major Crimes Unit investigated alongside Moonachie police.
The investigation determined no home invasion or robbery occurred and that Rodriguez-Santos shot himself in the leg.
Investigators also determined Palacio hid the firearm from responding officers.
Authorities also found Rodriguez-Santos was in possession of personal identifying information of others.
Both were arrested on Oct. 15.
Rodriguez-Santos was charged with second-degree making false reports to law enforcement, third-degree hindering apprehension or prosecution, fourth-degree trafficking in personal identifying information and fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence.
Palacio was charged with second-degree making false reports to law enforcement, third-degree hindering apprehension or prosecution by concealing evidence, third-degree hindering apprehension and fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence.
Both were remanded to the Bergen County Jail.
Rodriguez-Santos and Palacio each made a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack on Oct. 16 and were ordered released pending further court action.
