Prosecutors determined police did not physically abuse Kevin Higgenbothom, 47, who died last week
TRENTON- A man who was seriously injured after his arrest last year, has died, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.
File photo of a Trenton Police vehicle (Michael Mancuso | The Times of Trenton) Kevin Higgenbothom, 47, died last week, the office confirmed Saturday. He was hospitalized in June for a cardiac arrest after a confrontation with police. At the time, Higgenbothom's injuries sparked an investigation led by the prosecutor's office into the circumstances surrounding the 47-year-old's arrest.
However, following his death last week, Casey DeBlasio, spokesperson for the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office said the office is concluding the investigation.
An autopsy conducted last week did not reveal any skull fractures or other indications of abuse by police or the hospital, DeBlasio said Saturday.
The investigation stemmed from the June incident when police were called to a home on Bellevue Avenue for a report of an assault.
Once there, they found Higgenbothom, whom they identified as the suspect, and his family member, who was clearly injured, police have said.
Prosecutors investigate arrest of Trenton man
Higgenbothom was acting strangely and ran from police when they tried to confront him. They chased him and used pepper spray in an attempt to stop him but the 46-year-old continued to evade police, they have said.
After running from police inside the home, Higgenbothom jumped from a 3rd story window and officers took him into custody, police have said.
Higgenbothom thrashed his body around inside the police car and was taken to the crisis unit at Capital Health Regional Medical Center, according to authorities. Once there he suffered a cardiac arrest but medical personnel were able to keep him alive.
Trenton police called the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office and internal affairs investigators, instigating the investigation, according to police.
Higgenbothom was charged with assault, criminal mischief, improper behavior and resisting arrest after the incident.
On Saturday DeBlasio said that the medical examiner is still investigating Higgenbothom's cause and manner of death but that they do not believe the 47-year-old was abused by police.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.