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A state grand jury voted to not file any charges related to the death of 30-year-old Daniel King, the state Office of the Attorney General said in a news release on Monday, Oct. 1. King died more than 24 hours after he was arrested in Fairfield Township.
Investigators said Trooper Mark Allonardo responded to a home on Fordville Road at around 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, 2023. King had requested a police escort to retrieve property at the home.
King eventually fought with Allonardo and attacked him, according to video of the incident. The two men fell to the ground and King bit Allonardo's face.
Two witnesses held Mr. King while he was handcuffed. Troopers Zachary Reichenbach, Nicolas Salamone, and Arturo Sanchez then arrived to help arrest King and transport him.
King was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and brought to the state police station in Bridgeton. While in custody, King became unresponsive during a "medical episode" and paramedics rushed him to Inspira Medical Center in Vineland.
King's condition worsened until he was pronounced dead at 11:37 p.m. on Sunday, July 9, 2023. An autopsy determined he had phencyclidine (PCP) in his system.
Witness interviews, photographs, video, and autopsy results were presented to the grand jury. Jurors concluded on Tuesday, Sept. 24 that no criminal charges should be filed against the troopers.
A 2019 state law requires the Attorney General's office to investigate anyone's death that happens "during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody."
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