By C1 Staff
MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — A federal magistrate doesn’t believe that making the surveillance video of a county inmate’s death will compromise the jail’s security.
App.com reports that U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Arpert ruled that video from the day Amit Bornstein, 22, died at the Monmouth County Jail should be made public.
Bornstein’s family is suing the county, the sheriff’s office and officers for wrongful death. The video was filed as evidence in January 2014 and was available to the public for four months before the county and sheriff’s office sought to have it sealed when it was requested by unnamed third parties.
A medical examiner determined Bornstein had a pre-existing heart condition that was exacerbated by a scuffle with officers and ruled the manner of death accidental.
An investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office cleared the officers of excessive force charges. Bornstein’s family still insists that he was “brutally murdered.”
Arpert wrote in his ruling that the county undermined its argument that releasing the video from July 29, 2010 would compromise security of the jail by describing the restricted area and the officer’s movements.
The county also argued that the media would sensationalize the video and “the public, without the benefit of any context, will only see a scuffle and a young naked man strapped to a chair.”
Arpert responded that potential publicity of the wrongful death lawsuit did not warrant the video being sealed.
Bornstein was picked up by sheriff’s deputies on July 29, 2010 for failing to appear in court for disorderly persons and traffic violations.
He was the primary caregiver for his younger brother while his father worked abroad and became angry when an officer said the state Division of Youth and Family Services may take the younger brother if no other family members came forward.
According to an autopsy report at the time, Bornstein resisted being restrained and struggled with officers before being taken to the medical unit and given a medication to calm him. His heart slowed and be became unresponsive. Jail staff attempted to revive Bornstein, but he later died at the hospital.