AG releases body camera video of police encounter that occurred an hour before Newark man’s death

Raul DeJesus died on Jan. 5 about an hour after an encounter with Newark police officers.

News 12 Staff

Mar 1, 2023, 4:03 AM

Updated 605 days ago

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The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General has released police body camera video nearly two months since a Newark man died an hour after an encounter with police on Jan. 5.
Six videos, totaling 10 minutes were released showing the encounter between Raul DeJesus and Newark police officers.
The situation started near Orange Street in Newark. Officer Alberto Vero is heard asking DeJesus to turn around for him. DeJesus then takes off running.
Police say that Vero initially approached DeJesus about a crime that happened in December.
DeJesus is seen running through backyards, jumping on top of cars and onto a table. The officers are seen chasing him and finally catching up.
“We got eyes on him. We got eyes on him,” an officer is heard saying.
They found DeJesus at the bottom of an embankment.
“Show me your [expletive] hands,” an officer is heard saying. “You move, you’re dead.”
Officers started dragging DeJesus down the embankment and closer to the roadway when he didn’t get up. Several officers can be seen around DeJesus. He is then heard saying, “I can’t breathe.”
The officers were able to stand DeJesus up and called an ambulance.
But about two minutes later, the officers are seen trying to wake DeJesus up.
“Just breathe for me, alright There we go,” an officer is heard saying.
Police say that the ambulance arrived shortly after that. Officials say that DeJesus died at the hospital almost an hour after officers first approached him.
The video released came from three different body cameras, officials say. The investigation into DeJesus’s death is ongoing.