No Criminal Charges In Old Bridge Man's Death In Police Custody

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — A grand jury has voted not to file any criminal charges in the death of Frank Zampini, 49, who died while handcuffed by Old Bridge police in July 2019, announced acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew Bruck.

The New Jersey attorney general's office investigates anytime someone dies in police custody. The state prosecutor is required to convene a grand jury to review the causes and circumstances of the death.

In the death of Zampini, the grand jury heard interviews with law enforcement and civilian witnesses, a review of audio from a 911 call and a motor vehicle recording, and autopsy results from the medical examiner.

The grand jury voted Tuesday “no bill,” meaning a majority of the 16-23 New Jersey residents on the jury found the actions of Old Bridge police officers were justified, and no charges should be filed against them, said the NJ Attorney General.

As Patch reported at the time, at approximately 12:51 a.m. on July 15, 2019, Old Bridge Police were dispatched to the Stratford apartments on Arcade Lane in response to a 911 call reporting that an individual was coming down after having used Ecstasy and was causing a physically violent disturbance inside a neighbor’s apartment.

When officers arrived in the apartment, they encountered the apartment’s resident attempting to control Zampini, who was flailing his arms around and fighting with the neighbor, who was attempting to restrain him.

Zampini was similarly combative with the officers and attempted to bite them, said the Attorney General.

As a result, the officers placed him in handcuffs for his own protection, as well as their own.

"After being placed in handcuffs, Mr. Zampini momentarily calmed down," read the report. "A few seconds later, however, Mr. Zampini began vomiting and immediately thereafter became unresponsive. Officers immediately took him out of the handcuffs, began CPR, and called for emergency medical technicians, who continued CPR upon their arrival."

Zampini was pronounced dead inside the apartment at 1:46 a.m.

An autopsy report from the medical examiner concluded that Zampini’s cause of death was “excited delirium” induced by the combined effects of the illegal drugs he took.

Prior: Widow Of Man Who Died In Old Bridge Police Custody Intends To Sue: The widow of an Old Bridge man who died in police custody said it took her 11 months to get his autopsy and the use-of-force report. (August 2020)

Old Bridge Man Dies While Handcuffed In Police Custody, AG Says (July 2019)

Be the first to know. Sign up to get Patch emails: https://patch.com/subscribe Contact this Patch reporter: Carly.baldwin@patch.com