North Bergen Police Lieutenant Arrested for DWI

A North Bergen police lieutenant was arrested last month in Palisades Park for driving while intoxicated, according to police records and footage obtained and released by Hudson County View.

Lt. Otoniel “Otto” Cruz was found by Palisades Park Police Officer Stephen Kim asleep behind the wheel of a parked vehicle at the intersection of Bergen Boulevard and East Edsall Boulevard around 1:30 a.m. on March 18.

According to the police report, Cruz’s vehicle was idling with the brake lights engaged. Officer Kim observed Cruz slouched over in the driver’s seat with his foot on the brake. Upon waking him, Cruz appeared confused and uncertain of his location.

When asked whether he had consumed any alcohol, Cruz said he had not, the report states. However, he failed multiple field sobriety tests, including horizontal gaze tracking, a walk-and-turn, and a one-leg stand.

Cruz was taken into custody and later submitted to two breathalyzer tests, both of which showed a blood alcohol content of 0.19%—more than double the legal limit in New Jersey.

Cruz has served in the North Bergen Police Department since 2003 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2016. He was off duty at the time of the incident.