Crime & Safety
Ex-Hasbrouck Heights Cop Indicted in Murder of Wood-Ridge Man
Knife believed to be murder weapon found, prosecutor says.
A Bergen County grand jury handed up a ten count indictment charging a former Hasbrouck Heights police officer in the of his longtime friend in Wood-Ridge, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Scott Smith, 33, was indicted on charges including murder, weapons possesion and hindering. Smith will be arraigned within the next six weeks and remains held at the Bergen County Jail on $2 million bail, Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said.
The former borough officer is accused of stabbing , during an argument believed to be over drugs or money, prosecutors have said.
Molinelli said investigators found a knife believed to be the murder weapon after searching the homes of Smith and his girlfriend. Smith pleaded not guilty at a December court appearance.
Smith joined the Hasbrouck in 2000 and left in 2008, state employment records show. He was arrested in January 2010 on forgery, stolen property and obtaining drugs by fraud charges, records show.
The Hasbrouck Heights police chief filed disciplinary charges against Smith for a series of alleged misdeeds, including filing a false report and failure to respond to calls, Northjersey.com reported.
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