Officer Involved In Deadly South Jersey Crash Won't Face Charges, State Says

WEST DEPTFORD, NJ — A West Deptford Police Officer who was following a speeding car when it was involved in a deadly crash will not face charges, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office said.

A grand jury delivered its "no bill" decision on June 1 after hearing testimony and evidence surrounding the case against Patrolman Conor Goggin after a high-speed chase on Nov. 9, 2025.

Officers were responding to a report of two men who were intoxicated in a car before being led on a pursuit by a 24-year-old illegal immigrant behind the wheel, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Along with the dashcam footage from patrol vehicles, surveillance footage in the area showed a speeding car plow into another that was being driven by Jose M. Martinez, 42 of Lindenwold, who died at the scene.

Martinez, a grandfather and native of the Dominican Republic, had just finished his shift at his day job when he was hit by driver George Linard who sped through a red light at the intersection of Hessian Avenue and Red Bank Avenue.

A passenger in Martinez's car also fractured her leg.

Authorities said Linard reached 86 miles per hour at the point of impact in a 30 miles per hour zone.

Linard was left with serious injuries, and a passenger in his car dislocated his hip.

A range of legal matters have followed in the case, including law enforcement discovering that Linard, a resident of the United Kingdom, initially gave them a fake ID with the name "Steve Hall."

Authorities first identified him as Hall but later discovered his real name after learning that he was dodging a warrant for charges in Bergen County, according to prosecutors.

Linard has been removed from the United States before, and according to ICE, his real name is Steve Peker, and "George Linard" is another alias.

Linard is charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree eluding, second-degree death by auto, four counts of second-degree aggravated assault, and one count of fourth-degree fraudulent possession of a government license.

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