Police audio and video were released Thursday related to the death of a Millville man while in State Police custody in Bridgeton.
The Attorney General's Office released the recordings in accordance with policies established in 2019 designed to promote the fair, impartial and transparent investigation of fatal police encounters.
It's apparent that Trooper Mark Allonardo and King have already spoken about the incident earlier, when the trooper approaches him in front of a residence on Fordville Road in Fairfield Township, Cumberland County, at about 7:20 p.m.
Allonardo told King that the issue was a civil one, but King says that the trooper lied and another officer said he could help him.
"I have no reason to lie to you," Allonardo replies.
The two walk up to the door of the home, as King gives the name of the person who lives there and their relationship, both of which are beeped out in the video that was released to the media.
The trooper questions how King is saying he lives there when he had to request assistance to get the bike, for which he hands the trooper a title. The trooper is heard saying the King's name is not on it.
When no one answers the door of the residence, King begins saying that he will be rich because the officer is refusing to help him.
He yells to another man, who later explains to the trooper that he is there to buy the dirt bike from King.
"F--- my job, I'm rich from a racist officer," King yells, jumping around.
The trooper asks for the resident's number, which King tells him he doesn't need.
Later King yells that he's getting married and quitting his job because he's going to be rich as a result of the issue with the trooper.
"I'm acting like this because this is what happens when people get money," he tells the officer, hopping up and down.
"My last name is King," he yells. "King! You know you're f---ing with a god."
He then tells the trooper, "Shoot me! Shoot me!" moving forward toward the body camera as he talks.
"Let's fight, I'll take the charge because you know what?" King says, swinging his right arm at the officer. "I'll take the charge."
"Come on, dude," Allonardo says.
There is more back and forth, and then the trooper tries to take King into custody.
A struggle ensues, with King at one point yelling, "He won't even shoot me."
It ends when two men nearby step in and help, with each holding an arm down.
"I won, I'm Jesus," King says.
Troopers Zachary Reichenbach, Nicolas Salamone and Arturo Sanchez respond to the scene, with the body camera from one also released.
It shows that officer rush to the scene with King, Allonardo and the two men on the ground.
An EMT is called to tend to Allonardo, although neither that response nor the trooper's full injuries are shown.
Reichenbach, Salamone and Sanchez work to get King in a patrol car, as he continues to refuse.
"I got kids, dude," King tells the one officer as he lies on his stomach with his head out of the car. "I'm not lying."
The trooper tells another officer to give King a second, "We got time on our hands."
Eventually they get King into the vehicle after more struggle.
A camera from inside the car shows him sitting most of the way, but then he lies on his back and starts kicking his legs toward the camera.
The trooper radios that King is "trying to kick the window out."
The camera moves at one point, and King is on the floor out of view when they get to the station.
"Yeah, b----," he's heard saying at one point. "Yeah, b----."
Another video shows his arrival at the station. When he troopers open the car door, he kind of rolls out and they take him inside, where he is cuffed in holding.
He does not talk at all during that video once inside the station, and while being cuffed looks dazed.
At some point, he suffered a medical episode and became unresponsive, according to the preliminary investigation. No video of that was released.
Lifesaving efforts were performed by troopers before he was transported by EMS to Inspira Medical Center in Vineland, according to the investigation. His condition continued to deteriorate until he died at 11:37 p.m. July 9.
The manner and cause of death is under investigation by the state medical examiner.
The in-custody death is under investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.
Investigators previously met with representatives of King’s family to review the recordings, according to the office.
The investigation is ongoing.
(NOTE: Click on photos to see corresponding videos.)
