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Dishawn Bellamy

Age : 32

Gender : Male

Race : Black

Date : 06/05/2022

Location : 527 Myrtle Avenue

City : Neptune Township

County : Monmouth

State : New Jersey

Agency : Asbury Park Police Department

Officer(s) :Samuel Griffeth; Scott Ritter

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Driver killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE: Asbury Park police attempted to stop Bellamy while Officers Samuel Griffeth and Scott Ritter were investigating reported gunfire near Atkins Avenue and Boston Way. Ritter recognized Bellamy and knew there was an active arrest warrant for him in connection with an attempted-murder charge.
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NARRATIVE:
On 06/05/2022, 32-year-old Dishawn Bellamy of Asbury Park was critically injured when the Ford Explorer he was driving crashed during an Asbury Park Police Department pursuit that began in Asbury Park and ended at 527 Myrtle Avenue in neighboring Neptune Township.
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At approximately 7:16 p.m., Officers Samuel Griffeth and Scott Ritter were responding separately to reports of gunfire near Atkins Avenue and Boston Way. Bellamy drove past Ritter's patrol vehicle. Ritter recognized Bellamy and knew there was an active arrest warrant for him in connection with an attempted-murder charge. Ritter radioed Griffeth to stop the Explorer.
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Both officers activated their emergency lights as Bellamy accelerated away. Griffeth followed the Explorer, with Ritter behind him. Investigators subsequently determined that the police vehicles did not match the Explorer's speed.
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The pursuit covered less than one mile. Approximately 40 seconds elapsed between Griffeth's radio transmission that the Explorer was not stopping and the crash.
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Bellamy lost control of the Explorer while attempting a left turn in Neptune Township. The vehicle rolled over and struck a residence at 527 Myrtle Avenue. At the time Bellamy lost control, the police vehicles were more than a block behind the Explorer.
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A 17-year-old male passenger from Asbury Park was critically injured and died shortly after the crash. Bellamy was transported to a hospital in critical condition. He remained hospitalized for more than a month and died from his injuries on 07/07/2022.
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Two additional occupants, a 15-year-old male from Asbury Park and a 25-year-old man from Neptune Township, survived. Police recovered two firearms near the wrecked Explorer.
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The New Jersey Attorney General's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability investigated the deaths. Investigators reviewed body-worn-camera and police dashboard-camera recordings, photographs, witness interviews and medical-examiner findings.
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The case was subsequently presented to a state grand jury. On 10/16/2023, the grand jury returned a no bill, declining to file criminal charges against Officers Griffeth or Ritter.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Asbury Park Police Officers Samuel Griffeth and Scott Ritter were identified as the officers who followed Bellamy's vehicle. The New Jersey Attorney General's Office investigated their conduct, and a state grand jury subsequently declined to criminally charge either officer.
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SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.njoag.gov/attorney-generals-office-releases-additional-information-video-and-other-media-related-to-fatal-officer-involved-crash-in-neptune-on-june-5-2022/
https://www.rlsmedia.com/article/state-grand-jury-clears-officers-fatal-2022-neptune-township-crash
https://dailyvoice.com/article/asbury-park-pd-not-responsible-for-death-of-attempted-murder-suspect-teen-in-crash-grand-jury/
https://patch.com/new-jersey/asbury-park/grand-jury-declines-indict-asbury-park-police-after-2-die-crash