Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Thadius Wilder
Age : 31
Gender : Male
Race : Black
Date : 08/03/2022
Location : Route 21
City : Passaic
County : Passaic
State : New Jersey
Agency : Passaic PD
Officer(s) :Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Drowning
Event : Drowned during police foot pursuit
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 07/30/2022, Passaic Police Department officers attempted to arrest 35-year-old Thadius Wilder at the Speer Village housing complex on an outstanding warrant. Wilder ran from officers on foot, climbed a fence, and entered the Route 21 corridor. Officers pursued him briefly before ending the chase because of the danger posed by traffic on the highway.
Wilder was reported missing by his family the following day after no one had heard from him. On 08/01/2022, kayakers discovered a body in the Passaic River below Route 21. The body was recovered by emergency responders and was later tentatively identified, and then confirmed, as Wilder.
Under New Jersey law, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office assumed responsibility for investigating the death because it occurred during an encounter with law enforcement. The investigation was conducted by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability and was to be presented to a grand jury upon completion.
