Rumson Police Chief Disappointed With Lack of Sympathy Over Death

On the subject of the death a couple of weeks ago of a young man residing in a Rumson home, officials have cautioned that there is a distinct difference between facts and unconfirmed presumptions.

Thwarted perceptions based on unknowns is something Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson said he has grappled with in the face of what he called primarily an "unfortunate tragedy" since the death was reported. "I really would like to have seen more sympathy from the community surrounding the loss of life of a young man," he said. "There have been presumptuous conclusions drawn when all the facts are not yet in."

The death of the young man due to a cause that has not yet been determined and/or confirmed by autopsy by the Monmouth County Medical Examiner's Office is one of those facts.

The only other facts available for release, Paterson and Mayor John Ekdahl confirmed, are:

• The young man was a 25-year-old from Holmdel;
• The deceased had been living in a residential Oxford House substance abuse rehabilitation/recovery facility at 61 South Ward Avenue;
• The matter is under investigation led by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, per proper investigative protocol for an unknown (cause), unattended death;
• The recovery home is not considered a boarding house, but a single-family structure, its members considered family, by law, and is permitted by the borough and protected by the American Disabilities Act (ADA) laws and state statute;
• Complaints called in to police by neighbors until the death have proven minor;
• Management of such facilities is not bound by law to notify officials or neighborhood residents when the members move in.

Many of neighbors' complaints have surrounded the fact that they were not notified in advance that such a house with up to nine recovering males allowed was coming to the area.

However, Ekdahl said, they are not bound by law to do so. "It's a noble cause, no doubt," the mayor said. "What we're exploring now, through our borough attorney, is whether or not the terms of the recovery home have been violated. The members of the household are supposed to remain sober.

"If, in fact, it turns out that the death was due to what people have suspected (or presumed) was a drug overdose, then that would be a violation of the charter. And there were two other failed drug/alcohol tests that we've heard of. Again, it's all speculation at this point, but such violations, or the possibility, are what we will be asking about when we meet with Oxford House representatives."

That will be happening soon, the mayor said, adding that Borough Attorney Martin Barger sent a letter to the national Oxford House headquarters' higher ups in Michigan inquiring about specifics of field houses' charters and violations.

Those violations are potentially things that cannot be enforced by police, because what's not permitted for the members of the house, such as drinking by an adult on the grounds, is perfectly legal in itself.

The police, for instance, could not give a sobriety test to an adult of legal age suspected of drinking on the property. And, Ekdahl said, while it may be inconsiderate for a visitor to, for instance, drink at a home where people are battling addiction, it's not illegal, but may be a matter for review by Oxford's management.

If no violations of the home's charter have been determined, then, Ekdahl said, borough officials would like to know what to expect next from its management. So far, from this point on, though, borough police and other officials have struck a courtesy agreement to remain in contact with Oxford personnel to ensure compliance with the home's residents, Paterson said.

Neighbors have called in complaints, attempting to reveal what they presumed would be violations of terms of living in the house or borough ordinances, but, Paterson said, "complaints have been minor in nature up to this one unfortunate tragedy … It's safe to say that underage parties in Rumson have caused much more of a disturbance than any activity at this house (not including the death)."

At this point, Paterson said, it's pointless for those not supportive of Oxford in Rumson to bemoan the house's existence. "It's irrelevant," he said. "Whether or not we knew in advance that an Oxford House was coming to this location doesn't matter now. It's here and it's legal."

Ekdahl said that case law has shown in instances in which municipalities have attempted to have such homes disbanded, the law has not sided with the municipalities and/or neighborhoods.