After Suspect In Bergen County Crime Is Killed In Hotel Shootout, NJ Won't Charge Police

NORTH JERSEY, NJ — After a suspect in an attempted murder in Bergen County was killed in a hotel shootout last year, the state has declined to press charges against the police.

According to a release issued Monday by the state Attorney General's office, on Dec. 31, 2022, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and investigators from Morris County went to the Pine Brook Motel in Monville to arrest James Allandale, 61. They had a warrant charging him with attempted murder and other related charges stemming from an incident on December 27, 2022, in Elmwood Park.

At the time, Bergen County prosecutors described the Elmwood Park incident as a shooting on Lincoln Avenue.

Because gunfire from the police killed Allandale on Dec. 31, the death had to be presented to a state grand jury, in accordance with the Independent Prosecutor Directive of 2019.

The investigation included witness interviews, photographs, review of body-worn camera footage, and autopsy results from the medical examiner. The evidence was presented to a state grand jury.

After hearing the testimony and evidence, the grand jury concluded its deliberations Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, and voted “no bill,” meaning the grand jury decided no criminal charges should be filed against Sgt. Fred Jackson of the Denville Police Department and Morristown Police Sgt. James Krauss, members of the Morris County Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (“SERT”).

The Attorney General's Office said that the following account was given of what happened the day Allandale died:

When SERT members arrived at the motel, they unsuccessfully attempted to unlock Allandale’s room door using a key card. Because the door would not open, at 7:18 p.m., SERT used a battering ram to enter the room. Immediately upon entry, officers observed Allandale in a kneeling position holding a revolver pointed at the officers. Allandale exchanged gunfire with Sgt. Jackson and Sgt. Krauss. A paramedic with the SERT was on scene to provide advanced life support to Mr. Allandale, who was pronounced deceased at approximately 7:27 p.m.

"A projectile was recovered from the ballistic shield carried by Sgt. Jackson, directly underneath the shield’s eye port. The two sergeants were transported to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and later released."

Recordings from body-worn cameras were released in February 2023. Click here to view the recordings.