Body-Cam Footage Released Of Passaic Co. Man Who Died In Police Custody

PATERSON, NJ — The Attorney General's Office released body-camera footage Wednesday regarding the death of a man in Paterson police custody. Officials identified the deceased as Jose Gonzalez.

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Gonzalez, 41, of Paterson, died Oct. 2 after police received multiple 911 calls about a man walking on the roof of a home, attempting to break in. Police and medical personnel found Gonzalez outside a home on the 600 block of Madison Avenue.

The man appeared "injured and incoherent," according to authorities. In the footage, Gonzalez is shirtless, shaking and muttering. He opened the door to the home and fell down.

Officials told him "relax" and signal for him to leave the home "this way," but Gonzalez stayed down. Sgt. Angelo Gencarelli and Officer Rocco Galiano attempted to aid Gonzalez, according to the Attorney General's Office.

They pulled him out of the home, but Gonzalez wouldn't stay still. So officers briefly handcuffed him to try and secure him and placed him on a stretcher. Gonzalez had been quiet for a few minutes.

"I lost his pulse," an EMT said.

Officials took Gonzalez to St. Joseph's University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead nearly an hour later. Authorities did not publicly release his cause of death.

The Attorney General's Office also released two 911 calls and radio communications from the incident. Investigators met Wednesday with Gonzalez's family to review the recordings.

The AG's investigation remains ongoing. Once it's complete, the case will get presented to a grand jury to make a decision on whether to file charges.

See the video and listen to the communications here.

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