Second Arrest Made In Hit-And-Run Death Of Beloved Vice Principal
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - One suspect appeared in court while a second arrest was made in the hit-and-run death of a long-time New Brunswick educator.
A video conference from jail is how 21-year-old Freddy Garcia went before a judge, reports CBS2's Dave Carlin.
He's charged with aggravated manslaughter after allegedly street racing in his Honda which investigators say led to the fatal crash into popular vice principal Tyrone Harrison.
Police say Garcia left the scene, abandoning the car with a false report it was stolen.
The 49-year-old Harrison walking from the Edison train station to a relative's house.
He now faces numerous charges, including aggravated manslaughter and knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
In court in New Brunswick, Middlesex County prosecutor Andrew Carey said tips from the public led them to Garcia at his home and also to another man they arrested.
Investigators say 21-year-old Sohjah Powell-Warner helps run an alleged racing group called 78 imports. He is charged with hindering law enforcement after Saturday night's tragedy on Piscataway's Stelton Road.
A sign outside New Brunswick High School reads "Mr. Harrison we miss you."
The educator's wife declined an on-camera interview but told CBS2 she is grateful people came forward with information for police and asked that street racing must stop.
Investigators are said to be making progress finding all the drivers of the trio of cars allegedly racing in a surveillance video.
Grief counselors are on hand offering support to students and staff at Brunswick High School, where Harrison worked as a math teacher and vice principal for nearly two decades.
"Caring person, lovable person, had a lot of respect here. He got me out of trouble a couple times," former student Troy Wilcox said. "I was shocked. I ain't going to lie, I was shocked. I'm still kind of shocked."
"He just seemed like a person that really liked his job, he always looked very serious about it," said 11th grader Brian Quintana. "The kind of person that he was and just seeing somebody die like that - that you always see on a regular day basis - it's kind of terrible."
