February 22,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Moonachie NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrests of BRANDON BIALEK (DOB: 05/18/1985; single; lab aide) of 16 John Street, Apartment 1, Lodi, New Jersey on charges of Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision and Hindering Apprehension; and BRIAN BIALEK (DOB: 05/18/1985; single; maintenance worker) of 270 Lawrence Avenue, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey on a charge of Hindering Apprehension. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, members of the Moonachie Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard Behrens, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office under the direction of Sheriff Michael Saudino.
At approximately 5:50 A.M. on Friday, January 5, 2018, the Moonachie Police Department received a report of a pedestrian lying in the roadway on Route 46 East near the intersection with Industrial Avenue. Upon arrival at the scene, officers observed a deceased male victim lying in the roadway. The victim’s injuries were consistent with being struck by a motor vehicle. The victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was later identified as 28-year-old Brian P. Rossi.
Evidence at the scene indicated that the striking vehicle was a black Ford Focus, sedan or hatchback, model year range 2012 to 2015. The striking vehicle fled the scene traveling eastbound on Route 46, before parking in the rear of a business establishment. A Mitsubishi Lancer arrived shortly thereafter, and both vehicles left together traveling east on Route 46, then north on Liberty Avenue towards Hackensack.
As a result of the investigation that followed, Brandon BIALEK was charged with one count of Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.1, a 2nd degree crime, and one count of Hindering Apprehension in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3, a 3rd degree crime. Brian BIALEK was charged with one count of Hindering Apprehension in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3, a 3rd degree crime. Brandon BIALEK was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing on Friday, February 23, 2018 at 9:00 A.M. Brian BIALEK is scheduled for a first appearance in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court on Monday, March 4, 2018 at 8:30 A.M.
Acting Prosecutor Calo states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would also like to thank the Moonachie Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.
