PARAMUS, NJ MAN CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER, VEHICULAR HOMICIDE AND ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD
For Immediate Release:
July 28, 2023
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of JOSE SANTOS (DOB: 11/19/1977; married; laborer) of 5 Gilbert Avenue, Paramus, NJ. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Paramus Police Department under the direction of Chief Robert Guidetti.
On Sunday, July 23, 2023, at approximately 12:58 a.m., the Paramus Police Department responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident on Farview Avenue between the intersections of Hemlock Drive and Hasse Avenue. Responding officers found a 2021 Mercedes Benz operated by JOSE SANTOS that struck a 2015 Yamaha motorcycle operated by 28-year-old Cody Cleary of Paramus, NJ. Cleary was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center in critical condition with serious bodily injuries.
JOSE SANTOS was believed to have been operating his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and was arrested at the scene. SANTOS was charged with third-degree assault by auto resulting in serious bodily injury while in violation of driving while intoxicated, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1c(2), and he was issued several motor vehicle summonses.
On Thursday, July 27, 2023, detectives were notified that Cody Cleary succumbed to his injuries and died in the hospital. JOSE SANTOS was then charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4a; second-degree vehicular homicide, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5a; and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(2). SANTOS was served with the additional charges and remains in the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing scheduled for August 2, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in Hackensack, NJ.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he would also like to thank the Paramus Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.
