Salem Driver Charged In Death Of Police Officer Pleads Not Guilty

Salem MA

03 March, 2021

11:32 AM

Description

SALEM, MA — The man charged with motor vehicle homicide in the head-on collision death of Salem police officer Dana Mazola last June pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned in Salem District Court on Wednesday. Juan Marinez, 26, of Salem, is charged with motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation, motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, speeding and marked lanes violations. The Essex County District Attorney's Office said Judge Carol-Ann Fraser ordered Marinez not to drive ahead of a pre-trial hearing scheduled for April 22. A Swampscott native, Mazola was a 31-year member of the Salem Police Department. "While we are thankful for the continuous support we've received from the community, the senselessness of this tragedy continues to devastate everyone who loved Dana," Florene Mazola, Officer Mazola's widow, said in a statement provided to Patch. "Not a moment passes when he is not profoundly missed." Marinez was charged on Feb. 18 eight months after the June 26 head-on crash on Jefferson Avenue that killed Mazola and left Marinez with non-life-threatening-injuries. Salem police said Marinez was driving a Ford Fusion struck a Toyota Corolla that Mazola was driving. Both were taken to Salem Hospital where Mazola was pronounced dead. Essex Assistant District Attorney Haleigh Reisman is the assigned prosecutor in the case. Attorney Mike Cerulli is representing Marinez. EDITOR'S NOTE: Information for this article was supplied by the Salem Police Department and Essex County District Attorney's Office. Patch follows a name removal policy for those listed in its published police reports. Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch. (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.) More Patch Coverage: Charges Filed In Crash That Killed Salem Police Officer 'An Unimaginable And Heartbreaking Loss' For Salem