An East Newark police officer was charged with driving under the influence late last month after crashing a department vehicle in Harrison while on duty, authorities said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
On January 26th at approximately 6 a.m., Harrison police officers were dispatched to the intersection of Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard and Sherman Avenue on a report of a police vehicle striking a parked vehicle, according to Harrison Det. Sgt. Matthew Murphy.
The caller advised police that the officer, later identified as Brian Aparicio, was asleep and he was unable to wake him up.
Upon arrival, police observations led to the administration of standard field sobriety tests, which he failed, and was therefore charged with DUI. He was also given a summons for failure to submit to a chemical breath test.
Murphy also confirmed that Aparicio was on duty when the incident occurred.
Aparicio has been on the force, which has four officers (including him) and two sergeants, since about mid-2012, public records show.
Sources, who spoke under the condition of anonymity since they were not authorized to speak on the matter, said that he was initially suspended with pay, but that was changed to without pay today.
Today, HCV filed an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request seeking the police body camera and dashboard camera footage of the incident.
