AG: Fair Lawn Man's Death Not Caused By Police Use Of Force

PATERSON, NJ - The death of a 25-year-old Fair Lawn man who died earlier this year after he was involved in a bar fight was not accidental or caused by the use of non-deadly force by responding police officers, according the state attorney general's office.

See More: Authorities Investigating Death Of Fair Lawn Man

On Monday morning, the state released its findings of an investigation into the death of Steven Sherlock, which included reviewing evidence, video footage, witness statements and an autopsy report, and determined his March 17, 2019 death was not caused by the use of force by police.

According to the state, around 2:45 a.m. on March 17, police were dispatched to Duffy's Bar and Tavern on River Street after receiving a report of a scuffle outside of the bar. Responding officers found Steven Sherlock had been involved in a fight with two other bar patrons and security guards tried to restrain him.

Officers ordered Sherlock to show his hands, but he did not comply, and he continued resisting and cursing, the state said. An officer used "a short burst of pepper spray against Sherlock, then rolled him on his side and handcuffed him," the state said. At one point, Sherlock, who smelled of alcohol, fell down after being handcuffed, the state noted.

He was then taken to St. Joseph's University Medical Center by police for treatment, the state said. Upon arriving at the hospital, Sherlock refused to get out of the police car and when he refused they pulled him from the vehicle, the state said. Once outside, Sherlock laid on the ground and refused to stand up until after police explained to him he was not under arrest, the state said.

He then got up, walked into the hospital and started acting belligerent, the state said. After stumbling and falling several times, and at the request of hospital staff, officers escorted him to a room and removed the handcuffs, the state said.

Sherlock subsequently tried to assault hospital staff and security, and died an hour after he arrived at the hospital, which, the state noted, was 50 minutes after police left.

An autopsy performed on Sherlock revealed he died as a result of “coronary artery atherosclerosis with cardiomegaly," according to the state. The Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that a contributory cause of death was acute ethanol intoxication with excited delirium and the manner of death was ruled accidental.