Ocean County authorities arrested a Jackson man today on charges he left the scene of a crash in Lakewood that killed an off-duty police officer. Lamont Gadson, 37, was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving while suspended, but more charges may be coming as police continue to investigate the May 8 crash that killed Harvey Cedars Police Officer Angelo Vasile, said Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford and Lakewood Police Chief Robert Lawson. Vasile, 36, of Toms River, was off duty and driving his motorcycle on Route 9 near Central Avenue around 3 a.m. when his bike was hit from behind by a car that left the scene.
After the crash, police found an abandoned 2000 Mitsubishi Galant and traced it to Gadson, the owner, Ford said. She said Gadson initially was arrested on May 8 on outstanding municipal warrants. He was re-arrested this afternoon at his Arizona Avenue home in connection with the fatal accident, she said.
“All fatal accidents are tragedies, but to the law enforcement community, this loss strikes close to home,” Ford said.
Vasile was rushed to Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood, where he died from severe and extensive injuries, the prosecutor said.
A member of the Harvey Cedars Police Department for eight years, Vasile was president of PBA Local 135 and earned the department’s meritorious service award in 2005.
“The exact cause of the accident, the fault for the collision and whether or not the facts will support the imposition of other criminal charges is still the subject of this investigation,” Ford said. “However, we are confident probable cause exists for the charges filed today against Mr. Gadson.”
Gadson is being held in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River in lieu of $150,000 bail.
Anyone with information about the accident is encouraged to call Lakewood Police Officer Robert Reddington at 732-363-0200 or prosecutor’s Detective John Hill at 732-929-2027. Star Ledger
Very sad indeed, decorated police officer, father of 2, husband, hero, minding his own business on his off time. RIP brother you will be missed by all. Great job LPD catching this low life who caused the crash.
Congrats Chief and the LPD on a job well done !
I THINK ITS TIME FOR LPD TO CLEAN UP THE TOWN OF THE 3-40’S, AND 4-50’S.
STOP PARKING THE CARS IN PRIVATE-PROP & START TOWING THESE PIECES OF CRAP. IM SICK OF SEEING DRIVERS LET OFF WITH A SUMMONS, AND THE CAR PARKED IN A STRIP MALL(ONLY FOR THE CAR TO BE TAKEN A FEW HOURS ANYWAY) start running every plate, and getting these cars & drivers off the streets!
what are you talking about ? 3-40?s 4-50?s are these some kind of codes that only police understand ?
Rip
“what are you talking about ? 3-40?s 4-50?s”
NOW- how annoying is it when people talk in languages we cant understand-!?
good thing he didn’t type it yiddish………….K7 is talking about NJ State Statutes in Title 39, which are the driving laws, 39:3-40 is a person driving with a revoked license, and 39:4-50 is driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
alcohol mit drugs is eppis a prublaim? misht zich nisht arein in meine mishagassen. lutz lebben chevra. hamukom yenachem eschem…
#3…
It would be wonderful if it were that easy. #1: Police can’t just run license plates without probable cause for a motor vehicle stop. They can only run a vehicle’s plate for validity only. have you ever heard of something called profiling? #2…. It would be nice if officers could just tow vehicles from private property, key word PRIVATE PROPERTY. Or just tow vehicles whenever they wanted, but they can’t. Any car parked on private property is the property owner’s responsibility to remove it. The police can ticket it, but not tow it.
The Ocean county prosecutors office in conjunction with the Lakewood Police Department did an amazing job in bringing a low life life to justice. Whether or not your license is suspended, revoked or non existence, one can NEVER leave the scene of an accident. If this scum bag would have stayed on scene, his plight would have been a lot better.
RIP Officer Vasile
#1: [Police can’t just run license plates without probable cause for a motor vehicle stop. They can only run a vehicle’s plate for validity only] – you just said it. “Run its validity”. run every plate you can- If its unregistered, tow it- dont just drive it 100feet to the closest private prop & park it with the keys inside. for some HOMEBOY, to pick it up and drive off a few hours later after your shift.
#2 [It would be nice if officers could just tow vehicles from private property, key word PRIVATE PROPERTY.] actually yes you can. if the private prop signed off title39 to you- you can. places like coventry, and other communities gave you those rights- check with your LT.
#3. [Any car parked on private property is the property owner’s responsibility to remove it. The police can ticket it, but not tow it.]
wrong yet again- if its in a parking spot- your right… if its in a common driving area, impeding the flow of traffic of a private prop- it can be towed.
— THE PROBLEM IS THAT LAKEWOOD DOESNT HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS ON A SHIFT TO CONDUCT stupid TRAFFIC STOPS AND BE TIED UP WITH WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK/WRITING TICKETS/ETC…. WHEN HIS OTHER OFFICERS COULD BE NEEDING BACK UP ON A CRAZY CALL-(THAT LAKEWOOD HAS EVERY NIGHT) BRING IN THE STATE POLICE- AND HAVE A 3-CAR TAC-PAC DRIVE AROUND CONDUCTING NOTHING BUT TRAFFIC STOPS!
Lakewood needs more officers, not state police. This town needs officer’s that grew up here, know the streets and understand the fragility of the population do to its vast over population and said populations diversity…leave the state police to what they do best…making left turns
Why are you allowing uppercase letters & language that is less than respectible?