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Name Not Disclosed

Age : 17

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 : Passenger killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE: Passenger killed during a pursuit initiated after Asbury Park Police Officers Samuel Griffeth and Scott Ritter responded to reports of gunfire near Atkins Avenue and Boston Way. Ritter recognized the driver of the Ford Explorer and knew there was an active arrest warrant for him in connection with an attempted-murder charge. Ritter radioed Griffeth to stop the vehicle, and both officers followed it after it accelerated away.
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NARRATIVE:
On 06/05/2022, an unidentified 17-year-old boy from Asbury Park was killed while riding as a passenger in a Ford Explorer that crashed during an Asbury Park Police Department pursuit that began in Asbury Park and ended 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. As the officers responded, the Ford Explorer passed Ritter's patrol vehicle. Ritter recognized the driver and knew there was an active arrest warrant for him in connection with an attempted-murder charge.
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Ritter radioed Griffeth to stop the Explorer. Griffeth followed the vehicle, with Ritter behind him. Both officers activated their emergency lights as the Explorer accelerated away.
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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. Investigators determined that the police vehicles did not match the Explorer's speed.
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The Explorer's driver lost control while attempting a left turn in Neptune Township. The vehicle rolled over and struck a residence at 527 Myrtle Avenue. Investigators determined that the police vehicles were more than a block behind the Explorer when the driver lost control.
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The 17-year-old passenger suffered fatal injuries and died shortly after the crash. The 32-year-old driver was critically injured and remained hospitalized until he died from his injuries on 07/07/2022. Two other occupants, a 15-year-old male from Asbury Park and a 25-year-old man from Neptune Township, survived.
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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 the Explorer. 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://patch.com/new-jersey/asbury-park/grand-jury-declines-indict-asbury-park-police-after-2-die-crash