HOPE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Warren County) – A state grand jury has declined to file criminal charges against a New Jersey State Police trooper involved in a pursuit that ended in a fatal crash in Hope Township last August, officials announced Tuesday.
The Aug. 13, 2024, crash claimed the life of Michael J. Ceddia Jr., 76, of Hackettstown, whose motorcycle was struck by an SUV that was fleeing from Trooper Christopher Bird. The SUV, a gray Ford Explorer, was driven by Sean B. Mamakas, 33, of Kempton, Pennsylvania.
The investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) included video footage from body-worn and dashboard cameras, radio transmissions, witness statements, and autopsy results. The evidence was presented to a state grand jury, which voted “no bill” on May 20, 2025, meaning it found no basis for criminal charges against Trooper Bird.
According to investigators, Trooper Bird attempted to stop the Explorer at approximately 10:19 a.m. on I-80 eastbound near milepost 11. When the trooper activated his emergency lights and sirens, the driver fled on the shoulder at high speed and exited the interstate onto County Road 521 south.
At about 10:20 a.m., Mamakas reportedly passed another vehicle in the oncoming lane near Dogwood Road before merging back into the southbound lane, where he struck Ceddia’s motorcycle. The impact ejected Ceddia, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The SUV then left the roadway and came to rest in a wooded area.
Mamakas was taken to Hackettstown Medical Center for evaluation and later released into police custody.
In March 2025, a Warren County grand jury indicted Mamakas on multiple charges, including aggravated manslaughter, death by auto, eluding, aggravated assault, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Those charges remain pending, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The Attorney General’s Office has released footage from the incident, available at njoag.box.com, as part of its transparency policy regarding fatal police encounters. Representatives from Ceddia’s family were previously shown the recordings.
Under a 2019 law, the Attorney General’s Office is required to investigate deaths that occur during encounters with law enforcement officers. The Independent Prosecutor Directive mandates that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury for review.
A conflicts check determined no conflict of interest existed among those assigned to the investigation. OPIA Executive Director Drew Skinner reviewed the findings before the grand jury presentation. Any administrative review will be monitored by OPIA following procedures set forth in the directive.
