A Jersey City Police Officer Kevin Freibott, caused a car wreck on the Pulaski Skyway last year that killed a 2-year-old boy and severely injured his mother. He has recently pleaded guilty today to vehicular homicide, assault by auto and DWI.
Freibott, was off-duty at the time. He faces four to 10 year in prison when he is sentenced. He has been suspended without pay and his outstanding bail is $550,000.
He appeared before state Superior Court Judge Peter Vazquez, sitting in Jersey City.If prosecuted for a manslaughter charge, this may mean up to 30 years in prison for the death of the toddler.
Monmouth County property records show a Kevin Freibott as the owner of a home at 36 Delaware Avenue in Middletown. One of three streets in Middletown bearing that name is in the Fairview section, which is served by the Red Bank Post Office.
Freibott transferred to the Jersey City Police Department two years ago after nine years with the Middletown police. He has had a history of motor vehicle infractions, authorities said, including charges for DWI in 1988 and driving with an expired license in 2001.
This is not his first offense. An article in the Nov. 13, 2002 Asbury Park Press (archived, accessible via the Red Bank Public Library database), reported that Freibott had been involved in two accidents in 2001, once while on duty, and that he had been fired by township officials for giving police inaccurate information regarding his license, which had been suspended. A Merit System Board ruling later recommended that Freibott be suspended for six months without pay and reinstated.
As recently as July, 2005, Freibott was working as a patrolman in the township, according to a Press report of an arrest he made in an attempted strong-arm robbery at a drugstore that month.
