News
Grand Jury Returns No Charges in Guttenberg Police Encounter Death
A state grand jury declined to file criminal charges against a Guttenberg police officer in connection with the November 12, 2024 death of Brandon Lee Ortega, 26, of Mexia, Texas, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General announced Tuesday.
The grand jury concluded deliberations on March 23, 2026, returning a no bill against Officer Brandon Sauerwald. The case was investigated by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability and presented under the state’s Independent Prosecutor Directive of 2019, which requires the Attorney General’s Office to investigate deaths that occur during encounters with law enforcement.
According to the investigation, officers responded at approximately 11:02 p.m. on November 12, 2024, to the area of 68th Street and Bellevue Avenue following a 911 call reporting a disturbance. A resident reported that Ortega and others attempted to enter his property and that Ortega brandished a firearm during an argument.
Officer Sauerwald located Ortega near 7000 John F. Kennedy Boulevard East, where a brief foot chase occurred. Investigators said Ortega then attempted to carjack a nearby vehicle before climbing over a railing and falling approximately 68 feet. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities recovered a gun on his person.
The investigation included witness interviews, body-worn camera footage, surveillance video, 911 calls, radio transmissions, and autopsy results. The Attorney General’s Office released video footage and 911 calls related to the incident Tuesday.