Grand jury declines charges for New Jersey State Police in 2024 Knowlton custody death
TRENTON, NJ – A state grand jury has declined to bring criminal charges against New Jersey State Police troopers involved in the in-custody death of Armond Anthony Avitable, a 38-year-old man who died following a February 2024 law enforcement encounter in Knowlton.
The announcement came Monday from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, following a months-long investigation conducted by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA). The case was presented to a grand jury in accordance with the state’s Independent Prosecutor Directive, which mandates outside review for all deaths involving police custody.
According to the investigation, Avitable matched the description of an active shooter suspect after a 911 call reported gunfire at a Columbia Street residence in Knowlton on February 12, where one female victim was found fatally shot. He was taken into custody by state troopers near Route 46 and Interstate 80 after a physical struggle.
While in custody, Avitable experienced a medical emergency and became unresponsive. Troopers performed lifesaving measures, including the use of a defibrillator, before emergency personnel transported him to Lehigh Valley Hospital — Pocono in Pennsylvania, where he was pronounced dead at 8:57 p.m.
A Pennsylvania medical examiner determined the cause of death to be “drug toxicity complicating hypertensive and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.” The manner of death was ruled accidental.
The grand jury reviewed medical evidence, video footage, radio transmissions, 911 recordings, and testimony from witnesses before reaching a “no bill” decision, meaning no indictments would be filed. Body-worn camera footage from the incident has previously been released by the Attorney General’s Office.
Per state law, OPIA will now determine whether any administrative review is required by the involved law enforcement agencies.
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Key Points
- No charges filed against NJ State Police in death of Armond Anthony Avitable
- Death ruled accidental due to drug toxicity and pre-existing heart disease
- Grand jury reviewed video, 911 calls, and witness testimony before declining indictment
