Intoxicated Man Dies While Handcuffed In Mahwah Home, Police Say

An allegedly intoxicated 25-year-old Mahwah man died Sunday night while police were responding to a 911 call from his father, Chief Jim Batelli said.

A Campgaw Road resident called police Sunday at 10:16 p.m. when his son, Michael Garbowski, was believed to be under the influence of narcotics and/or alcohol and was locked in a second floor bathroom, Batelli said.

Garbowski was taken from the bathroom after refusing to leave, kicking or punching the walls, and speaking incoherently, Batelli said. After several attempts to get Garbowski out of the bathroom, his father forced open the door, police said.

He was handcuffed and “while awaiting the arrival of Valley Hospital medics and Company 4 ambulance, one of the officers observed [that Garbowski had] stopped breathing,” Batelli said.

Police officers administered emergency life support at the scene before transporting Garbowski to an area hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital, Batelli said.

Evidence recovered in the home included “narcotic contraband,” police said. Police declined to say the types of drugs found in the home.

The incident has been referred to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, as are all “in-custody” deaths, Batelli said.

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