Mercer Times

The Attorney General’s Office has released footage from a police body-worn camera and audio of police radio communications related to the November 23, 2023, death of a Camden County man. The incident involved a fatal collision with a police vehicle in the Atco section of Waterford, New Jersey. The deceased has been identified as Christofe “Christopher” Wita, 44, of Berlin, New Jersey.

The investigation is being conducted by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA). The release of these recordings aligns with policies established by the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 aimed at ensuring fair, impartial, and transparent investigations into fatal police encounters. Investigators have already reviewed the recordings with representatives of Mr. Wita’s family.

Preliminary findings indicate that Sergeant Richard Sbarra of the Waterford Township Police Department was on duty and driving a department vehicle when he struck Mr. Wita on White Horse Pike (Route 30) in Atco. Mr. Wita was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:19 a.m.

New Jersey statute N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2) mandates that the Attorney General’s Office investigate deaths occurring during encounters with law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity or while an individual is in custody. These investigations must be presented to a grand jury to determine if there is sufficient evidence for an indictment against the involved officer or officers.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no further information is available at this time.

Further details regarding the Independent Prosecutor Directive and OPIA's standard operating procedures for grand jury presentations involving fatal police encounters can be found on the Attorney General’s website.