Sicklerville Man Died In Police Custody, Authorities Investigating: Police

A Sicklerville man died while in the custody of New Jersey State Police after he was arrested on a drug charge last month, according to authorities.

On Tuesday, the Attorney General’s Office said it is investigating the death of 39-year-old Marshall Zamor, who was arrested on the Atlantic City Expressway on March 29 on Tuesday.

The initial autopsy report shows there was a plastic bag was found obstructing Zamor’s larynx. A firm white substance, believed to be crack cocaine, was also found in his larynx, according to the Attorney General’s Office. However, toxicology tests have not been completed and the autopsy report on Zamor has not been finalized.

The incident began when Zamor was stopped on the Atlantic City Expressway shortly before 11 a.m. because he was driving a car with tinted windows, according to authorities. The state trooper who stopped Zamor said he smelled marijuana and requested backup.

Police say they recovered two “blunts” during an ensuing search of the car. Zamor was arrested and brought to the Atlantic City Expressway State Police Station, where he was placed in a holding cell, pending processing on marijuana charge.

While he was in the cell, troopers discovered he had hidden an unknown object in his mouth, and entered the cell in an attempt to get it out. However, Zamor refused to cooperate, according to authorities.

Troopers left the cell, and returned after putting on plastic gloves. This time, police say a trooper was able to get part of a “white rocklike substance” out of his mouth, but couldn’t remove all of the partially chewed substance. After that, authorities called EMS to report that Zamor had ingested suspected crack cocaine.

While authorities say troopers used force at this point, they say they didn’t use force beyond what was necessary to hold Zamor down. Zamor also didn’t appear to be in distress at any point.

Zamor continued to work his mouth and wipe his mouth as if he had something in it. After a few minutes, he began to appear restless and uncomfortable.

Police say he repeatedly drank water from a sink in his cell, and wiped his face, sink and clothes with toilet paper. He then put a wad of toilet paper in his mouth.

Troopers told investigators Zamor then appeared to be in distress. He hunched over the sink again, and they entered the cell to help him. As troopers tried to help him, he began convulsing and fell unconscious.

Troopers attempted to revive him with smelling salts and CPR until EMS showed up and took over. Zamor was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Mainland Division, in Galloway, where he was pronounced dead.

The Attorney General’s Office didn’t release any further information on Tuesday.

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