Paterson police officer gets pre-trial intervention in drunk-driving case

A Paterson police officer will enter a 12-month pre-trial intervention program after pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated, the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.

Noel Ramos, 27 of Garfield, was involved in a crash in Clifton while he was off-duty, at around 12:28 a.m. on Feb. 13, prosecutors said. One person was injured in the wreck. Police responding to the scene found Ramos’ sports car in the middle of the roadway after it hit another vehicle and caused that vehicle to crash into a parked car, prosecutors said. An occupant in the second vehicle was injured and was treated at St. Mary’s General Hospital in Passaic and released, authorities said.

The city suspended Ramos in March after he was arrested, more than a month after the crash.

Ramos was charged with assault by auto causing bodily injury, within 1000 feet of school property, driving whileintoxicated, and reckless driving. Prosecutors did not provide specifics on what the pre-trial intervention would entail, but typically offenders are given rehabilitative services with the goal of preventing future criminal activity.

Because of the guilty plea to driving while intoxicated, Ramos will have to install an ignition interlock device, a small breathalyzer that prevents a driver from starting a vehicle after drinking, on his car.

Ramos has been with the Paterson Police Department since 2018. Police Director Jerry Speziale said he could not comment on a pending matter and referred questions to the prosecutor's office. When a Paterson police officer is suspended, police union contracts require that they are placed on paid administrative leave or assigned administrative duties.

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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ cop pleads guilty, enters pre-trial intervention