The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office is investigating a death that occurred following an arrest on Friday in Toms River. The identity of one adult male civilian, who died after being arrested for outstanding warrants, is not being released at this time.
According to the preliminary investigation, at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Friday, officers from the Island Heights and Toms River Police Departments and the Ocean County Sherriff’s Office attempted to arrest one adult male for active warrants at a gas station on Route 37 near West End Avenue. Prior to the arrest, the male refused to exit his parked vehicle and stated that he was having a medical episode.
Officers were able to arrest the male and provide medical attention on-scene. He was then transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was later pronounced deceased at approximately 2:25 p.m.
A 2019 law, N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while theap decedent is in custody. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved.
The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.