By: Richard L. Smith
A state grand jury has voted not to file criminal charges in connection with the death of Omar Williams, 43, of Hamilton, who died following a police pursuit and crash in East Orange in July 2024.
According to a statement from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the case was investigated by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability and presented to a state grand jury in accordance with New Jersey’s Independent Prosecutor Directive.
After reviewing testimony and evidence, the grand jury concluded deliberations on February 9, 2026, and returned a “no bill,” determining that no criminal charges were warranted against the involved officer.
The investigation included witness interviews, police radio transmissions, photographs, dashboard and body-worn camera footage, third-party video, and the results of a medical examiner’s autopsy.
All evidence, including video recordings of the incident, was presented to the grand jury.
Investigators said the events leading up to Mr. Williams’ death began on the morning of July 23, 2024.
At approximately 10:57 a.m., a woman was robbed of her purse while leaving an Acme grocery store in Montclair.
About 15 minutes later, a second woman was pushed to the ground and robbed outside a CVS in Bloomfield. In both incidents, the suspects fled in a Nissan Sentra.
Witnesses provided the vehicle’s license plate number, and authorities later determined the Nissan had been reported stolen out of Montclair the day before the robberies.
Automated license plate recognition alerts later indicated the vehicle was in Newark.
At approximately 12:57 p.m., Bloomfield Deputy Chief Anthony Sisco located the Nissan while driving an unmarked police vehicle in Newark and alerted other units. Lieutenant Michael Moleski and Detective James Romano joined him in another unmarked vehicle.
When the Nissan sped away, the officers pursued it into East Orange, where Sergeant Raymond Diaz joined the pursuit in a marked police vehicle with lights and sirens activated.
Authorities said the pursuit lasted about four minutes and covered approximately 2.9 miles.
At around 1:08 p.m., the Nissan traveled into the wrong lane of traffic on Park Avenue and sideswiped a Toyota Camry driven by an uninvolved motorist who was attempting to make a left turn. The Nissan then struck the front of a parked ambulance.
Police removed Mr. Williams from the Nissan, where he was found unconscious.
He was transported to a local hospital and pronounced deceased at 1:38 p.m. Officials said all other civilians involved sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Video footage from law enforcement and third-party cameras related to the incident had previously been released to the public and remains available online through the Attorney General’s Office.