A New Jersey man fell to his death over an embankment while being pursued by police, prompting an investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.
A.G. Matthew J. Platkin announced the probe on Friday, days after the deadly confrontation unfolded in Guttenberg, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Police were called Tuesday just after 11 p.m. to 68th Street and Bellevue Avenue to investigate reports of a disturbance, the attorney general said. Authorities were provided with a description of the individuals involved, including one person who was allegedly armed with a gun.
Police were eventually able to locate the potential suspect in the area of 7000 John F. Kennedy Boulevard East, but he fled upon spotting law enforcement.
The suspect then climbed “over a railing adjacent to the building after a foot chase, and fell to his death over an embankment,” according to the attorney general. He was pronounced dead on the scene after fire department and EMS personnel responded to the incident.
Platkin said “a gun was recovered on the decedent’s person at the scene.”
Authorities declined to provide additional details, including the nature of the disturbance that triggered their response or any identifying details of the suspect.
Per a 2019 law, the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability is required to probe all deaths amid encounters with law enforcement. An investigation into the matter is ongoing.
