Nutley Man Charged in Hit-and-Run Death

A Nutley man was arrested Friday in the hit-and-run death of Belleville resident Jodi DeSoto, who was struck and killed as she crossed Belleville Avenue last Saturday evening, Sept. 17.

Luis Cruz, 42, was arrested by detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. He is charged with vehicular homicide, leaving the scene and failure to render aid, all crimes in the second degree. Bail was set at $200,000 by Judge Maurice Gallipoli of Hudson County.

DeSoto, 48, worked in the Essex County courts system for Judge Michael Ravin. She was also the wife of the late Hector DeSoto, a judge whose court was also in Essex County.

A source familiar with the case said evidence gathered at the scene helped lead to the arrest.

“This arrest was the result of good old fashioned police work,” Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said in a statement.

Cruz was being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility pending his arraignment.