Two Atlantic County corrections officers charged with manslaughter and official misconduct in the death of an inmate will not remain jailed as they fight the charges.
Both men had detention hearings Thursday before Superior Court Judge Wendel Daniels in Ocean County.
The case has been transferred due to the defendants' employment within the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
The state alleges both men used excessive force in handling the inmate in the midst of a medical issue.
Their attorneys argued that it was a drug-induced fit that resulted in a combative inmate that the officers were trying to get under control to render assistance.
They successfully argued that the men, who both complied with the years-long investigation and turned themselves in following the indictments, are not flight risks.
Neither has any criminal history, scoring the lowest possible score on their public safety assessments, a system that helps determine detention under bail reform.
Tornblom, 47, is additionally charged with aggravated assault.
Jenigen, 38, left in January 2022 due to medical issues. He had spinal fusion surgery weeks ago, attorney Christopher St. John told the judge.
Terruso, 41, died of methamphetamine-induced excited delirium and cardiac distress, Deputy Attorney General Amy Knutsen told the judge.
He had blunt-force trauma to his chest and abdomen, and the medical examiner ruled it a homicide.
Statements Tornblom and Jenigen made during the investigation were presented during their separate hearings.
Tornblom, who was the supervising officer at the jail that day, said he gave closed-fist strikes to Terruso "due to his combative nature," calling it "a distractionary technique to gain control."
It had no effect, Tornblom said.
Terruso was under the influence of mind-altering drugs, Tornblom's attorney argued, calling it "a meth- and Ecstasy-fueled heart attack."
"He was in a drug-induced fit and a combative rage," Nicole Atlak said. "The record is clear he was resisting."
She said if her client was a danger to the community, the state would have been quicker to charge him and remove him from the job he continued to do until turning himself in Monday.
Jenigen's attorney said the former corrections officer did not wake up the morning of Sept. 15, 2019 looking to harm anyone.
Jenigen has dedicated his life to public service, beginning when he was 18 and joined the Mays Landing Volunteer Fire Department, where he still serves.
He even saved someone from a burning building in the time since Terruso died and was given an award for valor.
Jenigen also saved an inmate who was found hanging in his cell, St. John said.
"I wonder what the individual who was hanging by the neck in his cell would think of Mr. Jenigen being a danger to the community," St. John said.
Both men had the lowest score possible for their public safety assessment, which helps determine detention under bail reform.
The judge noted those low scores in releasing the men.
Daniels also said he saw a two-minute video of the incident in his chambers with the attorneys before coming to court.
He said he did have concerns about the injuries to Terruso in light of the punches by Tornblom, but said "that is argument for another day."
