A Lodi NJ high school teacher is attempting to get evidence withheld in his DWI case.

The suspect, a math teacher at Lodi High School, was arrested last year for allegedly drinking and driving on Route 46 in Lodi, New Jersey. The car accident occurred in April 2014.

According to law enforcement, the suspect was driving a 2012 Ford Fusion on the highway when he slammed into a Bergen County police cruiser. At the time of the crash, the suspect allegedly had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .219 percent.

The victim, a Bergen County police officer, was critically injured as a result of the car accident. He reportedly sustained significant head injuries, including a skull fracture and internal bleeding. He also suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

Meanwhile, the suspect was chased down by a Lodi police officer and arrested. He was then charged with a number of crimes, including second degree aggravated assault, assault by auto, and leaving the scene of an accident. He was also charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI).

Sometime after the charges were filed against the suspect, he was suspended from his teaching job at Lodi High School.

The suspect was later indicted on the criminal charges. If the suspect is convicted on the most serious charges of aggravated assault, he faces severe penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b), aggravated assault that involves a high indifference to the value of human life can be classified as a second degree felony and result in a sentence of 5-10 years in NJ State Prison.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office has offered the suspect a plea deal that would require him to serve 7 years in New Jersey State Prison. However, the suspect’s attorney indicated that his client will not be accepting a plea offer in the case.

With a trial looming, the suspect’s defense attorney has also indicated that he wants the DWI evidence to be ruled inadmissible at trial. The evidence reportedly includes statements made by the suspect after the car crash, as well as blood and urine samples.

The Bergen County Superior Court judge said that a hearing will be held in late November or early December to decide on the evidence admissibility issue.

While the criminal charges are pending, the suspect is free on $150,000 bail.

For additional information about this case, read the GarfieldDailyVoice.com article entitled “DWI Lodi Teacher Seeks to Block Evidence in Cop Crash.”