FLORHAM PARK — Charges have been dropped against a Florham Park police officer accused of choking a woman until she blacked out.
The charges against Officer Gregory M. Dietz, 34, were dropped this week due to insufficient evidence, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Public Information Officer Carmen Martin.
“We cannot comment further on the specifics of the matter,” Martin said.
Dietz had been charged with the following in connection with an alleged incident in Roseland on Sunday, July 5, court records show:
- Second-Degree Aggravated Assault (N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1)
- Harassment (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4)
- Stalking (N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10)
- Criminal Trespass (N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3)
Dietz’s attorney, Marco Laracca, issued a statement following the decision.
“Anyone can be accused of a crime,” Laracca said. “But an accusation is not proof, and everyone accused deserves to be treated fairly and judged on the evidence.
“The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office’s decision to dismiss these charges reflects a fundamental principle of our justice system — criminal charges should proceed only when supported by sufficient evidence. I am tremendously happy for Mr. Dietz and his family. They have endured an extraordinarily difficult ordeal, and I hope they can now put this nightmare behind them and move forward with their lives.”
The charges were filed Sunday, July 19, after a woman accused Dietz of striking her across the face and squeezing her neck with both hands until she blacked out, NJ Advance Media previously reported, citing an arrest affidavit.
The woman said Dietz’s attention became unwelcome after they met more than a year earlier, alleging he repeatedly sent inappropriate messages and later touched her without consent. After she blocked Dietz and told him to stop contacting her on July 5, he allegedly entered her apartment building, struck her and squeezed her neck until she blacked out. She contacted authorities after encountering him again on July 18.
Dietz was suspended without pay from the date of his arrest, Florham Park Police Chief Karl E. Svenningsen said. When reached by email on Friday, September 18, Svenningsen said: “We have no comment at this time as this continues to be a personnel matter being investigated by internal affairs.”
Dietz was sworn in as a probationary Florham Park police officer effective February 1. A warrant was issued Sunday, July 19, and executed the following morning, court records show. Essex County jail records show Dietz was committed to the jail Monday, July 20, and released four days later.
Editor’s Note: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
