Video Shows NJ Man's Fatal Attempt To Run From Newark Police
By: [Surveillance video & 2nd body cam sped up for time]
State officials have released video footage of a man’s attempt to escape from pursuing Newark police officers last month. The man – Raul L. DeJesus, 43, of Newark – collapsed during the foot chase, which ended near I-280 westbound. He was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, authorities said Tuesday.
The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General released the following statement about the chase, which took place on Jan. 5:
“According to the preliminary investigation, shortly before 3:42 p.m., Newark police officer Alberto Vera approached Mr. DeJesus in the area of Orange Street and South 11th Street in Newark, in connection with a homicide that had occurred in Paterson on Dec. 10, 2022. Mr. DeJesus fled on foot through various yards and collapsed on an embankment along Route 280 westbound, in the area of mile marker 12.8, where he was located and taken into custody by Newark police officer Nicholas Miller. Mr. DeJesus was transported to University Hospital and pronounced deceased at 4:41 p.m.”
The incident remains under investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.
No further information is being released at this time, prosecutors said.
The video footage begins with DeJesus walking across the street in a residential neighborhood. A police officer gets out of a vehicle and speaks with him for a short time, until DeJesus suddenly turns around and sprints down the block – with the officer behind him in pursuit.
DeJesus runs through the backyard of a home, climbs atop a parked car and hops over a fence, landing hard on the ground. As the officer follows him over the fence, DeJesus continues running through a nearby yard.
Ensuing footage then shows police gathered around an embankment by the side of I-280, with DeJesus lying motionless alongside a concrete pillar. As sirens wail in the background, the officers lift DeJesus up, take him down from the embankment to the side of the highway and handcuff him.
Several minutes pass before a dazed-looking and wincing DeJesus is taken from the scene in an ambulance.
“I can’t breathe,” he huffs at one point, as saliva drips from his mouth.
“Have a seat right here,” one officer replies, helping him sit on a guardrail as cars and trucks cruise along nearby. “Just breathe – we’ve got the ambulance coming for you.”