Ex-Newark Cop Sentenced; Deadly Police Chase Killed 1, Wounded Another

NEWARK, NJ -- A former Newark police officer was sentenced to more than two decades in state prison in connection with a deadly police chase that took place in January 2019, authorities announced Friday.

Jovany Crespo, 30, of Newark, was sentenced to 27 years in New Jersey state prison for aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault, official misconduct and weapons charges. Under the No Early Release Act, Crespo must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

An Essex County jury convicted Crespo of six counts counts including first-degree aggravated manslaughter of Gregory Griffin, 46, second-degree aggravated assault of Andrew Dixon, 35, two counts of second-degree official misconduct, and two counts of second-degree possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose in July of 2023.

Prosecutors said Crespo fired his service weapon seven times at the victims on three different occasions while the driver, Griffin, eluded police in his car.

Griffin was shot in the back of the head and died. Dixon, the front seat passenger, was also shot in the head and critically wounded. He survived, but died later of "unrelated reasons," prosecutors said.

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