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Everett Stern

Age : 63

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 06/18/2021

Location : N Arkansas Avenue and Arctic Avenue

City : Atlantic City

County : Atlantic

State : New Jersey

Agency : Atlantic City Police Department

Officer(s) :Ahmed Waqar

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Fatal collision involving police vehicle

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

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OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY:
On 06/18/2021, 63-year-old Everett Stern of Atlantic City was critically injured in a collision involving a marked Atlantic City Police Department patrol vehicle driven by Officer Ahmed Waqar at North Arkansas Avenue and Arctic Avenue. Stern died from his injuries at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center on 06/25/2021.
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At approximately 8:30 p.m., Waqar was driving north on Arkansas Avenue while responding to a routine call for service. He was in uniform and driving a marked police vehicle but was not using emergency lights or siren. Stern was riding his bicycle east on Arctic Avenue.
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The New Jersey Attorney General's investigation determined that Waqar had a green traffic signal as he traveled through the intersection. Stern entered the intersection on his bicycle and collided with the driver's side of Waqar's patrol vehicle. Private surveillance video captured the collision.
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Waqar stopped, called for emergency medical personnel and rendered aid to Stern. Stern was transported by ambulance to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center with critical injuries. He remained hospitalized for one week before dying on 06/25/2021.
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The New Jersey Attorney General's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability investigated Stern's death under the state's mandatory independent-investigation law for deaths occurring during encounters with law-enforcement officers. Investigators reviewed witness interviews, forensic evidence, surveillance video and Stern's autopsy.
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The Attorney General publicly released the surveillance recording in August 2021 after investigators met with Stern's family and their attorney to review it. The footage showed Stern riding into the intersection and colliding with the driver's side of Waqar's patrol vehicle.
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Stern's family later challenged the official characterization of the collision in a civil lawsuit. Family member Andria Stern alleged that Waqar negligently, carelessly and recklessly operated the patrol vehicle by failing to observe Everett Stern crossing the street and that Waqar's driving caused the collision and Stern's fatal injuries. The lawsuit named Waqar, Atlantic City and the Atlantic City Police Department.
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The criminal investigation was presented to a New Jersey state grand jury in December 2022. After reviewing the evidence and testimony, the grand jury returned a no bill, declining to indict Waqar.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
Everett Stern was critically injured in the 06/18/2021 collision and died on 06/25/2021.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Officer Ahmed Waqar was the Atlantic City Police Department officer driving the marked patrol vehicle involved in Stern's fatal collision. The Attorney General's investigation established that Waqar was responding to a routine service call without emergency lights or siren activated.
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Stern's family subsequently sued Waqar and Atlantic City, alleging negligent and reckless operation of the patrol vehicle. The city contested those allegations.
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DISPOSITION:
The New Jersey Attorney General's Office presented the investigation of Officer Ahmed Waqar to a state grand jury. On 12/19/2022, the grand jury voted not to criminally charge Waqar in Everett Stern's death. Stern's family separately pursued a civil lawsuit alleging that Waqar's negligent driving caused the fatal collision.
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SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.nj.com/atlantic/2021/06/bicyclist-struck-and-killed-by-atlantic-city-police-vehicle-officials-say.html
https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-on-bicycle-struck-and-killed-by-atlantic-city-police-car/article_b71f3a50-98c1-11eb-95aa-bf10cc4770a6.html
https://6abc.com/atlantic-city-bicyclist-killed-police-car-collision/10795122/
https://www.fox29.com/news/fatal-accident-involving-bicyclist-and-police-vehicle-under-investigation-in-atlantic-city
https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/ags-office-releases-video-related-fatal-collision-involving-police-vehicle-bicyclist-atlantic-city-june-18-2021/
https://breakingac.com/news/2022/nov/01/atlantic-city-officer-negligent-in-crash-that-kill/
https://breakingac.com/news/2022/dec/27/atlantic-city-officer-will-not-face-charges-in-fat/
https://www.rlsmedia.com/article/officer-not-charged-fatal-atlantic-city-crash
https://nj1015.com/video-shows-deadly-bicycle-vs-police-car-crash-in-atlantic-city-nj/