This afternoon, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office announced that their Special Victims Unit has arrested 37-year old, Jersey City Police Officer Frank Martinez and 36-year old Joanny Hidalgo of Jersey City, on charges relating to the abuse of a minor.
According to Prosecutor Esther Suarez, Martinez and Hidalgo individually surrendered themselves to detectives with the Special Victims Unit yesterday.
Suarez says on Thursday, December 2, 2021, the Jersey City Police Department was called to investigate a physical altercation between Martinez, Hidalgo, and a teenage child in their care. The child was transported to Jersey City Medical Center and treated for injuries to the face, shoulders and arms.
Martinez and Hidalgo are each charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a crime of the second degree. Both are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, February 10, 2022. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Public Integrity Unit is also assisting with the investigation.
The above charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.