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Off-Duty Saddle Brook Police Officer Charged with Leading Ridgefield Police on High-Speed Pursuit

Bergen County

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of Mr. Andres Morales, 29, (a Saddle Brook Police Officer) on a charge of Eluding.

Officials said on October 8, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Confidential Investigations Unit received information that on October 3rd, an off-duty Saddle Brook Police Officer fled from an attempted motor vehicle stop and led Ridgefield Police and other officers on a high-speed chase, however, no arrest was made.

Police say The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Confidential Investigations Unit initiated an investigation that revealed that at approximately 2:35 a.m., a Ridgefield Police Officer attempted to stop a speeding BMW.

The driver, later identified as Morales refused to pull over and fled the police at a high rate of speed, subsequently driving on State Routes 46 and 80.

Officials said the pursuit was later terminated due to the excessive speed and the danger to the pursuing officer and the general public.

As a result of the investigation, on October 14, police charged Morales with Eluding, a 2nd-degree crime. He was also suspended from his duties as a police officer according to officials.

The investigation is ongoing and several other officers have been suspended, pending the outcome of the full investigation.

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