Officers charged for allegedly ignoring deadly crash

PATERSON -- Prosecutors have charged two members of Paterson's Office of Emergency Management with official misconduct in connection with their response to a fatal motorcycle accident.

The Passaic County Prosecutor Office said Thursday that Juan Martinez, 30, of Paterson, and Jonathan Lopez, 29, of Hackensack, have been arrested on several charges.

Prosecutors say the two men, both auxiliary police officers, were driving an OEM vehicle in Paterson on April 17 and following behind a motorcycle at a distance of 100 feet or less while improperly activating the siren.

Prosecutors allege that Martinez and Lopez then witnessed the motorcycle crash and did not stop to render aid or contact police or their superiors.

The driver of the motorcycle, 31-year-old Randolph Waddy of Paterson, died from his injuries.

Waddy's family has hired a lawyer and is considering a lawsuit.

They believe the officers struck Waddy, though prosecutors say they have no evidence of that.

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