

GARFIELD — Police nabbed a city man with ties to the Lucchese crime family they say is responsible for a spate of commercial burglaries in recent weeks.

According to Capt. Darren Sucorowski, 37-year-old Gianni Iacovo was already a suspect in the break-ins when he was observed walking on Bergen Street at around 12:45 a.m. on Wednesday.

Officers quickly checked area businesses, and found that the door to the Golden Eagle Deli on Lanza Avenue had been smashed in.

Officer Michael Hawroniak, who was tracking Iacovo, attempted to stop him as he made his way back toward his home on Bergen Street. However, Iacavo ignored his commands, walking past Hawroniak and discarding a claw hammer onto a patch of grass, Sucorowski said.

Hawroniak exited his cruiser and arrested Iacovo for obstructing his investigation. A search found that he was also carrying a screwdriver, flashlight and a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine.

Iacovo was charged with seven counts of burglary and various weapons charges and was ordered held on $70,000 bond at the Bergen County Jail.

In 2011, Iacovo pleaded guilty to gambling charges in Morris County.

He and 33 other reputed Lucchese crime family associates were indicted a year earlier for what authorities said were their roles in international gambling and money laundering operations.

As part of his plea deal, he agreed to provide prosecutors with documents related to the case and to provide a sworn statement that could be used against his fellow defendants.