The state police report that New Jersey has seen no less than 9,093 car thefts through June 30th for the current year, a statistic which puts the state will eclipse the 14,000 thefts reported in 2021 if the current trend continues.
A Hudson County man who allegedly punched a would-be car thief in Jersey City now faces manslaughter charges since the punch proved fatal.
From The Jersey Journal:
According to a criminal complaint and statements made during a detention hearing Wednesday, Stevens saw Passero, of Bayonne, reaching into Stevens’ Jeep at 10:20 a.m. on Aug. 2 and ran toward Passero. When close enough, Stevens punched Passero in the side of the head, knocking him to the ground.
According to Jersey City closed circuit television footage cited during the detention hearing, Stevens stood over the bleeding and unconscious Passero for 21 seconds before getting into his vehicle and leaving. Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Eric Vivino pointed out during the detention hearing that during that time Stevens failed to call 9-1-1 or render any type of aid.
Hudson prosecutors say the man is guilty for having failed to ask the thief to stop before using force.
Whether you think the defendant is innocent, guilty, sympathetic or something else altogether, Save Jerseyans, what’s undeniable is that the ongoing upsurge in crime plaguing our state’s communities is leading to problems (e.g. car thefts) which give rise to successor problems (e.g. this undeniably sad case out of Jersey City).
