FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Raymond Worrall
PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737
EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org
TWITTER: @HCPOProsecutor
WEB: hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org
DATE: Thursday, November 2, 2017
INDICTMENTS RETURNED IN POLICE PURSUIT INCIDENT ON JUNE 4
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:
On November 2, 2017, a Hudson County Grand Jury returned an Indictment against four Jersey City police officers related to the events surrounding a vehicular police pursuit on June 4, 2017.
Lieutenant Keith Ludwig has been charged with three counts: one count of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1), a second-degree crime; one count of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(7), a third-degree crime; and one count of Official Misconduct in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:30-2(a), a second-degree crime.
MD Khan has been charged with 13 counts: two counts of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4(a), each a second-degree crime; three counts of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1), each a second-degree crime; two counts of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2), each a third-degree crime; one count of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(3), a fourth-degree crime; one count of Attempted Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(3) and N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1), a first-degree crime; one count of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(7), a third-degree crime; and three counts of Official Misconduct in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:30-2(a), each a second-degree crime.
Officer Eric Kosinski has been charged with five counts: one count of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4(a), a second-degree crime; one count of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1), a second-degree crime; one count of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2), a third-degree crime; one count of Attempted Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(3) and N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1), a first-degree crime; and one count of Official Misconduct in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:30-2(a), a second-degree crime.
Officer Francisco Rodriguez has been charged with four counts: one count of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4(a), a second-degree crime; one count of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1), a second-degree crime; one count of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2), a third-degree crime; and one count of Official Misconduct in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:30-2(a), a second-degree crime.
On Sunday, June 4, 2017, shortly after 11 p.m., Jersey City Police Officers attempted to stop a vehicle in the area of Ocean and Cator avenues in Jersey City. The driver fled the area in the vehicle and was pursued by police officers.
The fleeing driver, Leo C. Pinkston, age 48, of Jersey City, was involved in several automobile crashes. The first crash occurred as he attempted to drive between two lanes of traffic while traveling on Tonnelle Avenue.
During the pursuit, multiple shots were fired at the suspect by Jersey City Police Officers.
Several blocks later, Pinkston crashed his vehicle into another vehicle being driven on Tonnelle Avenue. This led to a collision with a utility pole causing a fire and injuring the male driver of the second vehicle.
A Hudson County Grand Jury previously returned an Indictment against Pinkston on August 23, 2017, charging him with one count of Eluding in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2(b), a second-degree crime; one count of Aggravated Assault while Eluding in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)(6), a second-degree crime; one count of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1), a second-degree crime; and Aggravated Assault by Auto in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1c(1), a fourth-degree crime. His next pretrial court appearance is scheduled for December 11, 2017, at 9 a.m. in Hudson County Superior Court.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).