Paterson councilman, mayor’s rival, arrested over City Hall fire alarm incident Dan Alexander Published: August 5, 2025 Paterson council member Luis Velez, Paterson City Hall

🚨Paterson Councilman Luis Velez was caught on video touching a fire alarm

🚨Velez's attorney says the charges are 'politically motivated'

PATERSON — A Passaic County city councilman and candidate for mayor is charged with setting off a fire alarm at City Hall last year.

Luis Velez, 58, arrived at the building on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, around 2:30 p.m. Surveillance video showed him touching the fire alarm box with his hand until the alarm went off, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said.

He was accompanied by two females in the video. Valdes did not disclose their relationship with Velez, b

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