By: Najla Alexander
NJ AG authorities released surveillance-camera footage and police radio transmissions relating to the February 5 death of a Morris County man who was killed in a crash in Hackettstown, involving a member of the New Jersey State Police (NJSP).
According to officials, the civilian who died during the encounter was previously identified as Raul L. Diaz, 59, of Long Valley.
This fatal police encounter is under investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), officials say.
Officials said the recordings are being released pursuant to policies established by the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 designed to promote the fair, impartial, and transparent investigation of fatal police encounters.
Representatives of Mr. Diaz’s family were allowed to review the recordings prior to their public release, authorities say.
According to the preliminary investigation, on February 5, shortly after 6 a.m., Sergeant First Class Kesene Grier of the NJSP was driving an unmarked police SUV that collided with a cyclist, later identified as Mr. Diaz, on Willow Grove Street in the area of Brook Hollow Drive in Hackettstown.
Officials stated Mr. Diaz was transported to Hackettstown Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased at 7:17 a.m.