HOWELL — The answers to the questions of how and why a man died following his visit to a music festival in Howell in September remain unknown almost two months after his death.
While the man’s family members have said they believe police may bear some responsibility for what happened to their loved one, Howell’s police chief told the Tri-Town News this week that he believes his officers followed all policies and procedures.
Attorney Thomas Mallon, who represents the family of Timothy J. Harden, 38, of Belmar, previously said Harden was volunteering at a music festival in Howell on Sept. 5. The music festival was held at the New Jersey Latvian Society property on Route 33.
Mallon said he was told by a festival organizer and security personnel that Harden was creating a disturbance at the festival. The attorney said security personnel detained Harden until Howell police officers arrived. Harden died later that day after being transported to a hospital.
Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick was contacted this week and said, “Since the investigation is still active at the prosecutor’s office, I am limited as to what I can release. This is to protect the integrity of the case.
“Once I am notified of their outcome and disposition of the case, I will thoroughly review it and determine if any further follow-up will be completed by my administrative command staff. This includes whether all departmental policies and procedures were followed.
“A ‘meaningful review’ is required to be completed for several incidents, including an officer’s use of force. However, based upon my initial review of the incident, including my presence at the scene that day, I am confident my officers acted properly, professionally and in accordance with all policies and procedures relating to the use of force and dealing with subjects displaying unusual and violent behavior,” Kudrick said.
Mallon said a festival organizer and a security representative told him that Harden seemed “physically OK” when they turned him over to police.
Harden was placed in an ambulance and transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. He died late that afternoon, according to authorities.
According to Mallon, an autopsy revealed that Harden sustained significant head trauma. His cause of death is unknown.
Mallon could not be reached for comment this week.
In mid-September, Howell police declined comment about the incident and referred calls to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Two weeks after Harden died, a spokesman for the prosecutor said the incident was under investigation. This week the prosecutor’s spokesman said there was nothing new to report about Harden’s death.
— Contact Jennifer Ortiz at [email protected]