2 Cops Hurt In Crash, Multiple Shootings Reported: NJ Weekend

NEW JERSEY — The body of a man was found hanging from a tree in Lakewood and two people were injured in a shootout in Paterson over the weekend.

Here are the headlines:

Man Killed, Another Injured In Sunday Shooting

One man was killed and another injured in a Sunday morning shooting in Salem, authorities said.

The shooting took place on Thompson Street a little before 12:30 a.m., according to the Salem County Prosecutor's Office.

Rahim Selas, 31, of Salem was killed and the injured person has not been identified.

Authorities are investigating.

2 Cops Hospitalized After Teen Crashes SUV Into Cop Car

Two police officers were hospitalized after a teen crashed into a police car that was making a traffic stop on Route 17 in Bergen County Saturday.

The crash caused a chain reaction, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said.

Joseph Ford, 18, has been charged with driving while intoxicated, assault by auto, and several other offenses, the Prosecutor's Office said.

On Saturday, around 10:38 p.m., Saddle River Police Officer John Latka conducted a motor vehicle stop along the shoulder of Route 17 South in Saddle River, near East Allendale Road.

Allendale Police Officer Mark Dunn Jr. arrived to assist and both officers had their emergency lights activated, Prosecutor Mark Musella said.

Ford was driving a Range Rover southbound when he "lost control and entered the shoulder," Musella said.

The Range Rover rear-ended the Allendale police car, causing a chain-reaction crash that also involved the Saddle River police car and the car that was pulled over.

Ford fled on foot from the scene but was apprehended by officers from surrounding agencies, Musella said.

According to the New Jersey State PBA, Latka, the Saddle River officer, was treated and released with minor injuries, but Dunn was still at the hospital being treated for serious injuries.

Ford was charged with third-degree assault by auto, third-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, three counts of fourth-degree assault by auto, driving while intoxicated, and several other motor vehicle offenses.

Prosecutors said Sunday that Ford remained hospitalized and in custody, and awaits a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.

Man's Body Found Hanging From Tree

A man was found hanging from a tree outside a home in Lakewood on Sunday morning, authorities said.

Police were called to a Cedar Street home just after 7 a.m. Sunday for a deceased person, and found the 23-year-old man, Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

"Unfortunately, life-saving efforts were unwarranted," he said.

The man's identity was not released by police.

"At this time the investigation is considered closed," Staffordsmith said.

2 Injured In Paterson Shootout

Two men were hospitalized after a shootout in Paterson on Saturday, media reports said.

The incident took place near Straight Street and Park Avenue around 11 a.m. when two men were firing at each other, according to News12.

A 33-year-old man was shot in the head and torso and is in critical condition, while a 28-year-old suffered minor injuries, the report said.

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