TRENTON, NJ – On Monday, a state grand jury indicted three Atlantic County Correctional Officers and five Hamilton Township Police Officers on criminal charges related to the death of Mario Terruso, 41, of Mays Landing, who died after being detained at the Atlantic County Justice Facility on September 15, 2019.
The grand jury returned charges of manslaughter against Atlantic County Correctional Sgt. Eric Tornblom and Correctional Officer Mark Jenigen. Sgt. Tornblom was also indicted for aggravated assault, and official misconduct charges were filed against Tornblom, Jenigen, and Correctional Lt. Jesse Swartzentruver.
Hamilton Police Sgts. Michael Schnurr and Nicole Nelson, along with Hamilton Police Officers Servando Pahang, Cory Silvio, and William Howze, were indicted on official misconduct charges in connection with their handling of Mr. Terruso on the day of his death.
The officers allegedly neglected to seek medical help for Terruso, who exhibited signs of narcotic use and mental distress, and instead transported him to the Atlantic County Justice Facility. There, he experienced a medical episode while being restrained by correctional officers and later died at a hospital.