Woman’s death in J’burg jail being investigated

BY SETH MANDEL
Staff Writer

JAMESBURG — A borough resident died in police custody Monday after she was arrested on drug charges.

Ann Fitch, 47, was found to be “in distress” while detained in a jail cell at borough police headquarters. Police contacted paramedics to tend to Fitch, but efforts to revive her failed, according to information released by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Fitch was pronounced dead at police headquarters at 7:07 p.m., less than two hours after her arrest, Assistant Prosecutor Ronald Abramowitz said.

Abramowitz said he could not elaborate on the “distress” that Fitch experienced prior to her death.

Fitch had been picked up by police at 5:20 p.m. on charges of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, which Abramowitz said is believed to be cocaine. She was a passenger in a car being driven by another Jamesburg resident near the intersection of Perrineville Road and Forsgate Drive at the time of her apprehension.

Police stopped the car after obtaining warrants to search Fitch as well as her Perrineville Road home, authorities said.

Jamesburg Police Chief David Lester said the department immediately notified the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office about Fitch’s death, and the county office is conducting an investigation into the matter.

An autopsy was performed Tuesday by Dr. Frederick DeCarlo at the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Lester said the results of the autopsy, as well as the toxicological testing, may take up to six weeks if authorities do not choose to expedite the process.