A Newark police officer has been charged with criminal sexual contact of a female Uber driver after she reported the incident to the Kearny Police Department, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Karon Bell, 23, of Newark, was charged with one count of criminal sexual contact, a fourth-degree crime, Suarez said in a statement.
He was arrested by the Newark Police Department Office of Professional Standards yesterday and then taken into custody by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit.
Bell was released on a summons and is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Friday, February 25th.
On Saturday, December 11th, 2021, a 36-year-old woman reported to the Kearny Police Department that she was the victim of a sex crime while working as an Uber driver.
The victim told police she had never met the suspect before and that he identified himself as a police officer. An investigation by the SVU identified Bell, who was off duty at the time, as the suspect wanted in connection with the incident.
Suarez credited the Special Victims Unit with the investigation and thanked the Kearny Police Department and Newark Police Department for their assistance.
Anyone wishing to report a sex crime should call the HCPO SVU at 201-915-1234.
