By: Richard L. Smith
A state grand jury has decided not to file criminal charges against any Essex County correctional police officers in connection with the 2021 death of inmate Daniel Gelin, 27, of Elizabeth, following a fight inside the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark.
According to information from the New Jersey Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), the decision followed an extensive investigation that included interviews, photographs, video footage, and an autopsy report from the medical examiner.
The case was presented to New Jersey residents serving on the grand jury under the state’s Independent Prosecutor Directive of 2019, which requires such proceedings to be conducted in a neutral and transparent manner.
Investigators said the altercation occurred on the evening of December 2, 2021, when Gelin became involved in a fight with another inmate who appeared to have a weapon and made stabbing motions toward him.
Correctional officers intervened, and medical staff treated Gelin before determining he did not require transfer to an outside hospital.
He was returned to a housing unit and placed in a cell with another inmate.
Overnight, no medical emergencies were reported. The next morning, Gelin initially prepared for a shower but later told officers he was having trouble walking and wanted to go to the medical unit.
He was advised to wait for the nurse’s morning medication rounds. A short time later, officers found him on the cell floor and called for medical assistance.
Emergency responders transported him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead just after 9 a.m. on December 3, 2021.
The inmate accused of stabbing Gelin was indicted in March 2022 on charges including first-degree murder and weapons offenses.