Joe Malinconico

Paterson Press

A former customs officer from Oradell has been arrested on charges that he pointed a gun at his former girlfriend in Paterson and threatened to shoot her, police said.

The suspect, 34-year-old Ryan Pagan, had a loaded handgun with a bullet in its chamber as well as an assault rifle with two loaded magazines when he was arrested, police said.

The weapons were in Pagan’s blue Mustang when he was stopped by Lt. Louis Spagnola of the Paterson police at a Firestone parking lot on Broadway in Elmwood Park, authorities said.

Pagan is accused of making the threats against his former girlfriend in Paterson, near Broadway and East 26th Street, about 6:55 a.m. Thursday, Police Director Jerry Speziale said.

After Pagan left the area, Spagnola tracked him down a short time later, police said. After stopping the Mustang, Spagnola approached the vehicle with his gun drawn, but Pagan refused to open his door or lower his window, police said. Pagan relented when additional police officers from Paterson, Fair Lawn and Elmwood Park arrived, Speziale said.

After authorities found the guns and a bullet-proof vest in the Mustang, Pagan told them he worked as an officer for United States Customs and Border Protection, Speziale said. But the Department of Homeland Security told authorities that Pagan had been terminated in 2012, the director said. Pagan had never returned the vest, which was listed as stolen, authorities said

Pagan was charged with aggravated assault as well as various weapons offenses.