Daniel King in body camera footage.
A grand jury declined to criminally charge state troopers in connection with the death of a Millville man in their custody last year.
Daniel King, 30, died July 9, 2023, of a medical episode, a day after an encounter with State Police.
But when Trooper Mark Allonardo arrived and explained it was a civil issue, King told him he was a liar and claimed the officer was racist, according to body worn camera footage previously released by the state Attorney General's Office last October.
He then started thanking the trooper, with King saying he was going to be rich, the video shows. King later tells Allonardo to fight him and then tells the trooper several times to shoot him. The two eventually wind up in a scuffle that 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.
King was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, for allegedly causing bodily injury to Allonardo.
Back at the station, the last video released shows King silent. As he is cuffed, he looks dazed.
At some point after that, he suffered a fatal episode. Video of that was never released to the public.
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, 2023.
His death was investigated by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.
The investigation included witness interviews, photographs, review of video footage and autopsy results from the state medical examiner, according to the Attorney General's Office.
Evidence including video of the incident was presented to a state grand jury, who voted "no bill" last week, meaning they concluded no criminal charges should be filed.
A 2019 law, N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a state grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved. The grand jury is instructed on the elements of the potential criminal offenses, including criminal homicide offenses, that could be brought.
A conflicts check was conducted pursuant to the Independent Prosecutor Directive and no actual or potential conflict of interest was found involving any individual assigned to the investigation. Prior to presentation to the grand jury, the investigation was reviewed by OPIA Executive Director Drew Skinner in accordance with the policies and procedures established for these presentations in the SOPs.
At the conclusion of these investigations, pursuant to the Independent Prosecutor Directive and SOPs, OPIA determines whether any principal should be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for administrative review in accordance with the AG’s Internal Affairs Policy & Procedures. OPIA monitors any resulting review and takes such actions as are necessary to ensure that the review is completed in a timely fashion, and that appropriate actions are taken based on the results of the review.
