'Help Me:' AG Releases Recordings In NJ Overdose Death

VOORHEES, NJ — Before making his way to the Voorhees Town Center, a 39-year-old man who died in police custody in September told 911 he was “being pursued by a gang who is trying to kill me.” He later told the 911 operator, “I think I’m just crazy and in need of help mentally.”

The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office released the recording and video recordings from four police body-worn cameras on Tuesday as part of its investigation into the death of 37-year-old Richard Belline, of Evesham Township.

Belline was arrested after police saw him speeding through the parking lot at the Voorhees Town Center at about 3 p.m. on Sept. 9. While in custody, he told the officers he had taken methamphetamine, and the officers called for an ambulance.

He was taken to Jefferson Stratford Hospital, where he died, authorities said. Read more here: Man Died Of Suspected Overdose In Police Custody In Voorhees: AG

Earlier in the day, he had called 911 to report that a gang was chasing him, and that he was at a Wawa near the exit for Route 295 near the town center.

“I have to try to keep moving because they’re trying to shoot me,” Belline told the 911 operator.

“Why are they trying to shoot you?” the operator asked.

“I guess I just know too much,” Belline responded.

He told the 911 operator he hadn’t seen any weapons. When the operator asked why he thought they were trying to shoot him, he told the operator he might need mental help.

“Can you pull into the Wawa?” the operator asked.

“I’m not there anymore,” Belline said.

After the operator asked where he was, Belline hung up.

A short time later, Belline was speeding through the town center parking lot when he hit a curb and flattened a tire, according to authorities.

The four body camera videos released seem to support facts previously released in the case. After crashing into a curb, Belline got out of his car and attempted to run from the Voorhees police officer on the scene, according to authorities.

The officer caught up to Belline, who refused to stop running because he said the officer, “wasn’t a real cop,” according to the recordings.

The officer wrestled him to the ground and handcuffed him. A backup officer and a K-9 officer responded, but the K-9 was not used, authorities said.

“Help me,” Belline continued to yell as two other officers and EMTs arrived on the scene. The officers asked if he had taken anything, and he said he had taken meth. A bag containing suspected methamphetamine was found in his car, according to authorities.

He continued to struggle, but at one point fell to the ground, leading officers to fear he had passed out. As an officer massaged his chest, he began to move again.

EMTs arrived and were able to get him into an ambulance. No further footage involving Belline was included in the videos.

The videos show the officer who was first on the scene finding a witness who said she saw Belline speed through the parking lot and the struggle that ensued.

While it is believed that he died of a drug overdose, the incident is being investigated under a state law that requires the Attorney General's Office 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 the decedent is in custody.

The investigation continues. The recordings were released pursuant to Attorney General Directive 2019-4, the “Independent Prosecutor Directive,” which governs both use-of-force and death in custody investigations in New Jersey.

The directive requires that such records, if requested, be released to the public once the initial phase of the investigation is substantially complete, which is the case in this matter, authorities said.