CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — An Atlantic County Superior Court judge on Monday, October 26, ordered the pretrial release of Lucio Lopez-Perez, 36, of Erma, denying two motions by the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office to keep him in jail until trial, court records show. Judge Jeffrey J. Waldman heard both motions on Monday and denied them. The prosecutor's office had filed the detention motions on October 17 and October 20. The court record does not list the conditions of release.
An immigration detainer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement remains in place, The Press of Atlantic City reports. A detainer asks a local jail to notify ICE and hold a person briefly for federal custody; the Scanner report does not say whether Lopez-Perez was transferred to ICE custody after the judge's order, and his immigration status has not been stated in the court record cited in the report. Readers should not treat the release order alone as proof that he has left custody.
Source: Cape May Scanner, Oct. 26, 2026
What happened on Route 47 on October 16
Lopez-Perez is charged with driving while intoxicated, assault by auto and violation of public health and safety law resulting in serious bodily injury, along with multiple traffic offenses, after Patrolman Austin Kapurelos was struck during a traffic stop on Route 47 South, near Wildwood Boulevard, shortly after 10 p.m. on Friday, October 16, according to Middle Township police. Kapurelos was taken to AtlantiCare Medical Center in critical but stable condition, and Route 47 South was closed for approximately four hours during the crash investigation. Lopez-Perez remained at the scene and was taken into custody and lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Center, police said.
Source: Middle Township Police Department, via Cape May Scanner, Oct. 17, 2026
Kapurelos, 26, a rookie officer, sustained multiple fractures requiring surgery, though family members said he suffered no internal injuries, according to a fundraiser report carried by WFPG. Police said two open beer cans were seen in Lopez-Perez's vehicle and that he admitted to drinking throughout the day, according to court documents cited in that report. Those details are part of the allegations in the case. The crash remains under investigation by the Middle Township Police Department and the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office. The charges are allegations, and Lopez-Perez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.