A state grand jury has decided not to bring criminal charges against members of the New Jersey State Police in connection with the death of Armond Anthony Avitable, 38, following a law enforcement encounter in Knowlton, Warren County, on February 12, 2024.
The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) conducted an investigation into Mr. Avitable’s death and presented the findings to a grand jury comprised of New Jersey residents. This process followed the Independent Prosecutor Directive of 2019 and standard operating procedures established by OPIA in July 2021 to ensure neutrality and transparency.
The investigation reviewed multiple sources of evidence, including 911 calls, radio transmissions, witness interviews, photographs, video footage from police body-worn cameras, medical records, toxicology reports, and autopsy results. After reviewing this material and hearing testimony, the grand jury voted “no bill,” meaning no criminal charges would be filed against the responding state troopers.
According to investigators, troopers responded at approximately 7:51 p.m. to a report of an active shooter at a residence on Columbia Street in Knowlton. Upon entry, officers found a female victim with gunshot wounds who was later pronounced dead. Troopers obtained a description of the suspect and located Mr. Avitable near Route 46 and Interstate 80.
At about 8:10 p.m., Sgt. Kyle Bruno and State Troopers Sarah Heitzenroeder, Justin Watts, Conner McNemar, and Connor Krueger took Mr. Avitable into custody after a struggle. While detained by police, Mr. Avitable experienced a medical episode and became unresponsive. Officers performed lifesaving measures using an automated external defibrillator until emergency medical personnel arrived. He was transported by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital — Pocono in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 8:57 p.m.
An autopsy performed by a Pennsylvania medical examiner determined that Mr. Avitable’s death was accidental and caused by “drug toxicity complicating hypertensive and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”
Under New Jersey law N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), any death occurring during an encounter with law enforcement or while in custody must be investigated by the Attorney General’s Office and presented to a grand jury for review regarding possible indictment of involved officers.
A conflicts check found no actual or potential conflict among those assigned to the investigation. The case underwent review by OPIA’s Executive Director before being presented to the grand jury as per established policies.
After such investigations conclude under the Independent Prosecutor Directive and SOPs, OPIA determines if administrative review is necessary according to internal affairs policies. OPIA monitors these reviews for timely completion and ensures appropriate actions are taken based on their outcomes.
Information about how fatal police encounters are investigated under New Jersey’s Independent Prosecutor Directive is available through official resources.
