No Charges For Montclair Cop After Fatal Police Chase In Glen Ridge

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A jury declined to file criminal charges against a Montclair police officer who was behind the wheel of a patrol car during a fatal crash and vehicle pursuit in Glen Ridge earlier this year.

Gregory Dukes, 42, and Cecil Richardson, 47, both of Philadelphia, were fatally injured when the vehicle they were in crashed after leaving the scene of an attempted motor vehicle stop on May 10. Montclair police officers were trying to pull over the vehicle in connection with a robbery investigation, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Read More: Videos Show Police Chase Prior To Fatal Crash In Essex County

Dukes and Richardson were killed in the collision. A third occupant of the car, Todd Hill, 45, of Philadelphia, was injured and hospitalized.

Video and audio footage taken at the scene can be seen online here.

An ensuing crash investigation included witness interviews, photographs, review of body-worn and dashboard camera footage, as well as autopsy results from the medical examiner.

After reviewing the testimony and evidence, a state grand jury voted “no bill,” meaning that no criminal charges should be filed against Michael Kupchak of the Montclair Police Department, the officer who attempted to pull over the vehicle.

Here’s what happened that day, according to the attorney general’s office:

“According to the investigation, the collision occurred shortly after 4:30 a.m., on Bloomfield Avenue in the area of Ridgewood Avenue in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. Officer Kupchak activated the overhead emergency lights on his marked patrol vehicle in an attempt to stop a vehicle driven by Mr. Dukes, in connection with a robbery investigation. Officer Brandon Taylor was also involved in the attempt to stop the vehicle, and followed behind Officer Kupchak during the pursuit. Mr. Dukes’ vehicle proceeded eastbound on Bloomfield Avenue and entered Glen Ridge, traveling in excess of 65 mph. Approximately 20 seconds later, as Mr. Dukes’ vehicle continued to rapidly accelerate away, Officer Kupchak began to slow down to terminate the pursuit. At that point, the officer was approximately 0.1 mile away from the suspect vehicle. Approximately 40 seconds after Officer Kupchak first attempted to stop the vehicle, and without coming into contact with another car, Mr. Dukes lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, and struck a tree. The total distance of the pursuit was approximately 0.2 miles.”

Dukes and Richardson were pronounced dead at the scene.

Kupchak and Taylor exited their police vehicles and located Hill near the crashed vehicle. Other officers arrived and rendered aid. Once an ambulance arrived, Hill was transported to University Hospital in Newark and admitted for treatment, authorities said.

Hill was arrested and later indicted by an Essex County grand jury on multiple robbery and weapon charges in connection with the incident. He is pending trial on those charges, which are being prosecuted by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, authorities said.

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