Texas man involved in deadly foot chase with N.J. cops is identified

State officials identified the police officer involved in a foot chase that ended in a Texas man’s death last week in Hudson County.
Brandon Lee Ortega, 26, of Mexia, Texas, died on Nov. 12 after he hopped a railing and fell down an embankment near John F. Kennedy Boulevard East in Guttenberg during a brief foot chase with police, authorities said.
A preliminary investigation into the incident found that Guttenberg police responded to 68th Street and Bellevue Avenue at 11:02 p.m. on Nov. 12 for a report of a disturbance, officials said.
Officers were given descriptions of the people involved in the disturbance and that one of the people involved, later identified by police as Ortega, was armed with a gun, officials said.
Guttenberg police officer Brandon Sauerwald identified Ortega in the area of 7000 John F. Kennedy Boulevard East, and after a foot chase, Ortega hopped a railing next to a building and fell down an embankment, authorities said.
Emergency Medical Services and the fire department responded, but Ortega was pronounced dead at the scene, according to officials. A gun was recovered from Ortega, authorities said in a press release.
The investigation is ongoing and officials did not release further details Friday.
The Attorney General’s Office investigates all deaths that occur during an encounter with law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity under a 2019 law.
The law requires investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if an indictment is warranted.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Matthew Enuco may be reached at [email protected]. Follow Matt on X