Washington, NJ – Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella has clarified that the incident initially suspected to be a child abduction in the Township of Washington on Saturday, February 3, is not a criminal case.
The investigation, led by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under Acting Chief Matthew Finck and the Township of Washington Police Department under Chief John Calamari, has concluded that the event involved no malicious intent.
The police were alerted to a suspicious occurrence at approximately 4:42 p.m. on February 3, when a resident witnessed a vehicle stop, and its driver moved a passenger into the trunk before driving away. Despite the concerning appearance of the actions, there was no evidence of distress or struggle from the passenger, and the driver did not seem to be fleeing the scene. Initial reports suggested an adult driver and a child passenger, prompting an immediate investigation by local authorities.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Child Abduction Response Team joined the investigation, utilizing surveillance footage to track down the vehicle’s owner the following day, February 4.
It was determined that the individuals involved were consenting teenagers, with one entering the trunk voluntarily and leaving it shortly after.