State Police detective from Mays Landing guilty in crash that killed motorcyclist
A State Police detective who lives in Mays Landing was convicted in a high-speed chase that ended with a crash that killed a motorcyclist in 2023.
Mark Campagna, now 47, faces as long as 18 months in prison after a Camden County jury found him guilty of fourth-degree endangering another person.
The conviction requires revocation of his police license, by law.
Campagna never called in the chase nor activated the lights or sirens on his unmarked take-home vehicle as he chased the motorcycle for miles, at times surpassing 100 mph, according to the state.
The detective was not on duty when he encountered motorcyclist Omar Kebbabi on June 20, 2023, on Route 206.
Campagna maintained that he did not intend to pull over the 24-year-old Queens, N.Y., man, but instead was just trying to get his license plate number.
“There is no evidence showing any lawful objective behind this pursuit,” Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said. “The defendant was not on duty. He never turned on his lights or sirens in an attempt to end the chase and effectuate a traffic stop of the victim.
“This was a needless and reckless high-speed chase that put not only the victim, but also every other driver on the road, in grave danger. And it ended in tragedy.”
Kebbabi collided with an uninvolved vehicle that was making a left turn at the intersection of Route 206 and Jacksonville-Jobstown Road in Springfield.
Both vehicles had the green light.
A Springfield police officer rendered medical aid to Kebbabi, who died at the scene. The other driver did not sustain life-threatening injuries.
Campagna’s original encounter with Kebbabi was captured by multiple commercial surveillance videos.
A municipal officer who was uncertain whether Campagna was a law enforcement officer, started following and captured the final portion of the chase on a mobile video recorder.
That video was released by the Attorney General’s Office as part of policies put in place for transparency in the investigation of fatal police encounters.
WARNING: The video that can be viewed by clicking this link includes the fatal crash.
Representative of Kebbabi’s family were given the opportunity to review the recordings before they were made public.
The case was investigated and prosecuted by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.
In addition to a maximum 18-month sentence, Campagna also faces a fine of as much as $10,000.
He remains free pending his sentencing July 30.
