Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey announced today that a former Elizabeth Police Officer was sentenced today to serve 270 days in jail as a condition of his probation for causing the death of a 29-year old man from Elizabeth while driving while intoxicated.
Romulo Meneses-Alvarez, 31, of Elizabeth must serve the 270 days in county jail as a condition of the 3 years of probation he will serve upon his release from county jail.
Union County Superior Court Judge John Deitch allowed Alvarez to remain free until October 19, 2018, pending the filing of an emergent appeal regarding his sentence.
Alvarez was sentenced following a plea agreement reached with Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Keith Abrams. On June 4, 2018, Alvarez pleaded guilty to strict liability vehicular homicide, tampering with physical evidence, and driving while intoxicated which caused the crash that killed Jairo Lozano, 29, of Elizabeth on October 31, 2017. As part of his plea agreement Alvarez, has already forfeited his current public employment with the Elizabeth Police Department.
In pleading guilty, Alvarez, admitted he was intoxicated on October 31, 2017, when he was off-duty and driving his personal car. He crashed his 2007 Jeep Wrangler into Lozano’s 2005 GSX Suzuki motorcycle at the intersection of Elmora Avenue and Vine Street in Elizabeth.
The driver of the motorcycle, was taken to Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth where he was pronounced dead from the injuries he sustained in the crash.
The defendant was arrested and charged following an investigation by Detective Donald Heck of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.