The Ridgewood Police Chief Said *What* About Dianna Russini's Traffic Stop and Nobody Was Ready For It

Alright, Emerald City, gather 'round because this one just hit the wires and it's a jaw-dropper. We've all been buzzing about the infamous traffic stop involving former New York Times reporter Dianna Russini, and the bodycam footage everyone's been waiting for? It's finally here, and it's everything we expected, and more. But that's not even the wildest part! The local authorities, the ones who didn't even drop a ticket on her, have officially broken their silence. We just got the full, unvarnished statement from Chief Forest Ross Lyons of the Ridgewood, New Jersey, Police Department, and what he had to say about that January 19, 2026, stop on Godwin Avenue? Trust me, you're gonna want to lean in for this.

The Chief Drops the Official Word on That Stop

So, Chief Lyons laid it all out in his statement Monday night, totally cutting through the noise. He confirmed the whole thing went down January 19, 2026, at precisely 9:40 am, when a Ridgewood officer initiated a motor vehicle stop on Godwin Avenue. The culprit? Ms. Dianna Russini, caught red-handed using a handheld cell phone while driving. Classic distracted driving, right? But here's the kicker, and this is where it gets absolutely wild: the Chief stated that after the officer followed all department protocols during the stop, and even took the time to review Ms. Russini's driving history, he exercised his "professional discretion." And get this: he just issued a verbal warning! No ticket, no citation! Can you believe it? Apparently, this kind of officer discretion, deciding between a warning or a ticket,

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is totally consistent with the Ridgewood Police Department's official policy and their long-standing practice. They even said officers are "encouraged to use their judgment" and, when appropriate, to "provide motorists with warnings" as part of their commitment to "fair, impartial and community-oriented policing." So, yeah, she got off with a warning. Wild.

But Wait, What About *That* Story?

Now, let's rewind a second. We all remember the buzz, right? The story that Dianna Russini herself allegedly spun? The one where she claimed she FaceTimed an NFL head coach, essentially pulling strings to avoid that ticket? Yeah, well, prepare for that narrative to crumble. The newly emerged bodycam footage? It absolutely *shreds* that whole tale. Straight up, the camera shows a completely different picture. Contrary to her later account, the footage reveals zero evidence of her attempting to FaceTime any NFL head coach for assistance in getting out of a citation. Not a peep, not a call. It was just a standard traffic stop, culminating in a verbal warning, despite what was widely reported later on. Talk about a plot twist, huh? It definitely makes you question everything you thought you knew about that day. So there it is, folks. The bodycam is out for the world to see, the Chief has spoken his piece, and the full, undeniable story of that January 19th traffic stop is officially on the record. What happens now? Who knows, but you know Seattle On Tap will be right here, breaking down everything that truly matters and keeping you in the loop on all the wild stuff, just like this. Until then, stay sharp, 12s, keep those hands off the phone while driving, and we'll catch you next time!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.