Newly released video shows Israeli inmate being beaten by NJ police before his death
Surveillance video from 2010 shows violent struggle between Israeli-American Amit Bornstein and officers in New Jersey jail, hours before his death.
A surveillance video recently made public, following the ruling of a court in Monmouth County, New Jersey, shows that Amit Bornstein, a 22-year-old Israeli American who died while in custody hours after being brought to jail – had been brutally beaten by prison guards.
The incident took place on July 29, 2010. Bornstein, a professional poker player, was arrested by Marlboro County Sheriff's deputies after failing to show up in court for traffic violations. According to a report by Asbury Park Press, he turned violent upon being brought to jail, and was declared dead several hours later.
Video contains graphic content:
His death caused an uproar in the Jewish community in New Jersey, which accused the guards of brutality and demanded an investigation into the incident – however, authorities insisted that the guards were not responsible for his death.
The video, published by the APP news website, shows Bornstein struggling with the guards as they attempt to restrain him, during which his face appears bloody. The guards also placed Bornstein in a wheelchair and took him to a room where four guards surrounded him, stripped him and put a mask on his face. The video shows him fighting them until he stops moving.
APP quoted a statement issued by the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, which runs the jail: "A complete and thorough investigation conducted by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies cleared the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office Correctional Division of any inappropriate actions in regards to the Amit Bornstein case.
"Mr. Bornstein's undisclosed medical condition, combined with his aggressive conduct, was the direct cause of his untimely and unfortunate death. To comment any further on specifics involving this matter would compromise the security of restricted areas inside the correctional facility and the ongoing civil lawsuit," the statement said, adding that "our thoughts remain with the Bornstein family over their loss".
