By: Richard L. Smith
A New Jersey state grand jury has declined to bring criminal charges against a Woodbridge police officer following a February pursuit that ended in a violent crash, killing a juvenile passenger and leaving several others injured.
According to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, Officer Khari Manzini was attempting to catch up to a Nissan Maxima driven by 18-year-old Mikael Salman of Iselin shortly before midnight on February 19.
Investigators said the Nissan was allegedly speeding along Route 1 South before traveling through residential streets and eventually returning to the highway.
Approximately one minute after re-entering Route 1, the Nissan collided with another civilian vehicle near Gill Lane.
The juvenile passenger was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on February 20. Salman was hospitalized, while occupants of the second vehicle sustained serious injuries.
Authorities also discovered a deceased dog inside the Nissan.
The officer's patrol vehicle was not directly involved in the collision.
Following a review of video footage, police communications, medical findings and witness interviews, the grand jury concluded its deliberations on November 9, voting against criminal charges.
The investigation was conducted under New Jersey's law requiring independent reviews of civilian deaths involving encounters with law enforcement.
The Attorney General's Office previously released video footage of the crash investigation.