Orange policeman Ricardo Arias-Vasquez was arrested Wednesday on charges he inappropriately touched a woman during a traffic stop, sources say.
Vasquez faces charges of witness tampering and criminal sexual contact (Essex County Prosecutor's Office). NEWARK -- A Thursday afternoon announcement by Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray confirmed an earlier NJ Advance Media report of an Orange officer arrested Wednesday on charges he groped a woman during a November traffic stop.
Officer Ricardo Arias-Vasquez, 34, of Hampton, surrendered to authorities in Newark Wednesday, confirmed Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Katherine Carter.
Arias-Vasquez has been charged with criminal sexual contact and witness tampering, Carter confirmed.
Investigators said Arias-Vasquez was on duty and in uniform on Nov. 18 when he allegedly pulled over a woman for a traffic violation. At some point afterward, he allegedly touched the woman inappropriately, Carter confirmed.
Authorities have also charged Arias-Vasquez with witness tampering for allegedly attempting to interfere with a prosecutor's office investigation of the incident, officials said.
A veteran officer, Arias-Vasquez previously worked for the Paterson Police Department from May 2007 to April 2011, when he was laid off, Carter said. He joined the Orange Police Department later that year, serving until July 2012, she added.
Arias-Vasquez later joined the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, where he worked from July 2012 to June 2013 before returning to the Orange Township Police Department, Carter said.
Attempts to reach Arias-Vasquez and Orange police officials were not immediately successful.
Bail for Arias-Vasquez has been set at $25,000, Carter said. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance before Judge Ryan on Dec. 30.
Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
