Off-Duty Paterson Police Officer Charged In Fatal Hit-And-Run Accident
PATERSON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Authorities have suspended a Paterson police officer who has been arrested and charged in connection with a deadly hit-and-run accident.
Officer Jose Urena is charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in the death of 23-year-old Jaquill Fields, of Paterson.
The 30-year-old officer was off-duty at the time of the accident at North Fourth and Temple streets around 8:25 p.m. Tuesday, officials said.
Off-Duty Paterson Police Officer Charged In Fatal Hit-And-Run Accident
Fields had just walked out of a friend's house when he was struck just two blocks from his home. He later died at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, police said.
Fields' mother was too distraught to speak Wednesday, 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reported.
"The last thing a mother wants to hear is that her child has been killed, that's the hardest thing any mother can go through," her boyfriend, Donald Harrison, said.
Harrison said he doesn't think the officer had any intention of stopping
"As far as we know the car just struck him and just left him there, just left," Harrison said. "As an officer, I mean, you know better. The average person would know better, so to be a law officer you would know better."
As CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported, friends and family were paying their respects to Fields at a makeshift memorial wall outside his Paterson home Wednesday. Most knew him as Jake.
"He was loved by many, many people and he's gonna be missed by many, many people," said cousin Meka Jacobs.
Fields' brother, Yeson, said he went to municipal court to see Urena face charges but missed the hearing by minutes.
"I want to see the guy that did this to my brother, took my brother away from me," he said. (Sanchez: What do you want to say to this officer that struck your brother and then took off? I hope he rot in hell. He's gonna pay for his actions."
Fields' family says their main concern now is the 2-year-old son he leaves behind.
"Jake was a real good kid, good father, good person," said Fields' uncle Henry Mottley. "If he could help someone, he would help them; always smiling."
Urena is a seven-year veteran of the force. Last year, he was praised for racing into a burning apartment on Godwin Avenue and saving 6-year-old triplets.
But Fields' family is devastated no heroics were performed to save their loved one, Sanchez reported.
"I'm not sure if the person was intoxicated or under the influence or anything like that, we don't know. Maybe if he just stopped and gave this guy some attention, see what was wrong with him, he probably could have saved his life," Harrison said.
Urena has been suspended without pay and was released on $50,000 bail. He could face more charges as the investigation continues.
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