Sharon Lauchaire Interim Director of Communications | New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety
Sharon Lauchaire Interim Director of Communications | New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety
The Attorney General's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) is conducting an investigation into a death that followed a police encounter in Guttenberg, Hudson County, New Jersey. The incident occurred on November 12, 2024, and involved a foot pursuit by law enforcement officers. The identity of the deceased adult male has not been disclosed.
Preliminary findings indicate that at around 11:02 p.m., officers from the Guttenberg Police Department responded to a disturbance call at 68th Street and Bellevue Avenue. The report included details about individuals involved in the disturbance, one of whom was allegedly armed with a gun. Officers found one suspect near 7000 John F. Kennedy Blvd. East. During a foot chase, the individual climbed over a railing next to the building and fell to his death down an embankment. Emergency services declared him dead at the scene, where they also recovered a gun from his person.
The investigation remains active, with no additional information available currently.
Under N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), enacted in 2019, the Attorney General’s Office is mandated to investigate deaths occurring during encounters with law enforcement officers acting officially or while in custody. These investigations must be presented to a grand jury to decide if evidence warrants indicting any officer involved.
Alerts Sign-up