The former Irvington police officer who has been accused of stabbing the mother of his child, fleeing with their child and leading cops in a Parkway chase will be extradited back to New York to face charges. Watch video
PATERSON -- The former Irvington police officer accused of stabbing his child's mother and fleeing with their 3-year-old daughter into New Jersey will be extradited back to New York to face charges.
Diomedes Valenzuela, who was shackled and had a bandage on his left wrist, waived his right to contest his extradition Thursday during his appearance before Judge Joseph Portelli in Passaic County Superior Court. Valenzuela faces charges of attempted murder, kidnapping and assault in New York, his attorney Anthony Iacullo said.
Authorities say Valenzuela critically injured the 31-year-old woman with whom he has a child on Tuesday afternoon in the Bronx before abducting their daughter, Rebecca. He then fled in a Dodge Caravan, and officials issued an Amber Alert in New Jersey and New York.
New Jersey State Police were on alert for the Dodge Caravan when they spotted it on the Garden State Parkway in Clifton Tuesday night.
Dashboard camera footage released Wednesday showed State Police cars box in and stop Valenzuela's vehicle on the highway. Valezuela was then arrested at gunpoint and his daughter was pulled from the vehicle and rushed to safety.
A bail hearing for Valenzuela will be held once he returns to New York, Iacullo said.
Man arrested after stabbing, Amber Alert is former N.J. cop
"Mr. Valezuela looks forward to his opportunity to contest these charges," Iacullo said. "There's always two sides to every story and we trust that'll come out at the appropriate time and appropriate way."
At Thursday's extradition hearing, the judge agreed to dismiss a New Jersey fugitive from justice charge since Valenzuela waived his right to contest his extradition. However, if New York authorities fail to extradite him back to the Empire State in 30 days, Valenzuela will be back in Passaic County Superior Court on Jan. 5 on the fugitive from justice charge.
An Irvington spokeswoman previously confirmed that Valenzuela was a township officer until March 2002. He was found guilty of filing false reports in connection with the November 2001 arrest of a taxi driver and later banned from public employment.
Reporting by Jessica Mazzola was used in this article.
Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.