Old Bridge Man Dies While Handcuffed In Police Custody, AG Says

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — An Old Bridge man who police say was high on drugs died early Monday morning after police handcuffed him and say he became unresponsive.

Police say the man became combative and then unresponsive after they put him handcuffs. He died in Old Bridge police custody early this morning. The man has been identified as Frank Zampini, 49, of Old Bridge.

The incident is currently under investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Shooting Response task force, which investigates all deaths that occur in police custody.

The AG's office refused to reveal what drugs he was suspected of being on.

According to the New Jersey attorney general's office, the incident began after midnight Monday, July 15 at the Stratford Apartments on Arcade Lane in Old Bridge: At 12:51 a.m., Old Bridge police were called to the apartment complex response to a 911 call reporting a man on drugs who was causing a disturbance inside a neighbor’s apartment.

When officers arrived, they encountered the man, Zampini, inside the neighbor’s apartment. Police said he initially was combative and officers placed him in handcuffs. Zampini then became unresponsive.

Officers began CPR and called for EMS, who continued CPR upon their arrival. Zampini was pronounced dead inside the apartment at 1:46 a.m.

He lived in the Stratford apartment complex.

The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time, said the attorney general's office.