Judge Raises Bail for Diana Hoffman of Camden Co.

By Alicia Cruz
New Jersey Newsroom

Determined to be a flight risk by Superior Court Judge Thomas Scully, the Camden County woman who set off a massive police hunt that led to the motor vehicle death of a State Trooper has had her bail raised to $500,000 from $350,000.

Diana Hoffman eluding officers in Tuckerton, her previous criminal record and her failure to appear in court on other charges all contributed to Judge Scully's decision to increase bail for the mother of four. Star-Ledger photographs of the defendant show a battered, emotionless Hoffman who yawned during her court hearing.

Hoffman, 30, of Blackwood, has been charged with eluding police, resisting arrest, hindering apprehension, possession of cocaine and heroin and a charge of false public alarm will be added to the list, Monmouth County Executive Assistant Prosecutor Richard Incremona told the Star-Ledger.

Creating a false public alarm is a first-degree criminal offense that holds a person responsible for a death related to a false public alarm. Incremona told 1010wins.com that Hoffman's false public alarm contributed to the death of Trooper Marc Castellano.

She faces life in prison if convicted of that charge. The eluding charge stems from a pursuit Hoffman led state police on in Tuckerton that was terminated for safety reasons.

Police found Hoffman's abandoned vehicle alongside Interstate 195 west near Exit 31B in Howell and launched a search for the occupants one being Hoffman and the other, an alleged gunman. Trooper Castellano was struck around 10 a.m. in a westbound lane of Interstate 195.

At the time, he was assisting in the search for the people who had reportedly abandoned the car found near Exit 31B. The search, which involved state police helicopters and several local K-9 units, sent four officers to the hospital for treatment of heat exhaustion like symptoms. Traffic on the Interstate was backed up for miles in both directions for most of the day as police set up a command post at a nearby auto dealer lot.

Searchers later found Hoffman hiding in nearby woods where they took her into custody. The search for the mystery man was called off after authorities began questioning the validity of Hoffman's gunman claim.

The motorist who hit Castellano stopped at the scene. An investigation of that accident is underway, but no charges have been filed at this time.

Condolences for Castellano, a husband and father of two pre-schoolers, have poured in from State lawmakers as well as fellow law enforcement officers. Castellano, a five-year veteran of the force, was a member of the Troop "C" Tactical Patrol Unit. He died hours after he was airlifted to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune.

Colonel Rick Fuentes, State Police Superintendent released this statement to CBS3 in relation to Castellanos death:

"The loss of Trooper Castellano is a difficult blow to absorb. The New Jersey State Police prides itself on being a family and the loss of our brother will be felt throughout the entire Division of state police."

The Officer Down Memorial web site has already set up a remembrance page for the fallen officer.