WURTSBORO — A New York State Police trooper will not face criminal charges in the 2024 shooting death of Albert Melendez Jr. following a high-speed pursuit in Sullivan County, the state Attorney General’s Office announced last week.

According to the Attorney General’s report, Ulster County Sheriff’s Deputy Devon Pullman first tried to pull over Melendez on July 16, 2024, at 2:09 a.m., when he was traveling north on State Route 209 and the Sheriff’s Office received a license plate reader notification that a black Mazda with a suspended registration and no insurance had driven past in the opposite direction.

Deputy Pullman said he turned his car around and attempted to pull the Mazda over by activating his car’s lights and sirens. The Mazda did not pull over, drove away at a high rate of speed, and passed another vehicle, crossing over a double yellow line.

Deputy Pullman notified Ulster County 911 that he had a “failure to comply” headed toward the Sullivan County border and provided them with the car’s registration.

According to troopers, Melendez drove past them on Route 209 and continued at a high rate of speed, continuing on to Wurtsboro Mountain Road and then Rock Hill Drive.

The police report says Melendez drove his vehicle into the trooper, striking him in the knees. The trooper then thought he was going to reverse and strike him again, and fired into the vehicle, killing Melendez.

The Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation concluded that the trooper’s use of deadly force was legally justified because he reasonably believed his life was in danger.

The investigation included interviews with the troopers involved, body-camera footage, police radio communications and a review of state law.

Melendez was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The trooper suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening and was treated and released from a hospital.

Under state law, police officers may use deadly force when they reasonably believe it is necessary to protect themselves or another person from deadly force.

The Office of Special Investigation said prosecutors would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the trooper’s actions were unjustified. The office therefore declined to pursue criminal charges.

Although the shooting was ruled justified, the office recommended that State Police further restrict when troopers may engage in vehicle pursuits.

State Police updated its pursuit policy in April, but the Attorney General’s Office said the changes did not alter the standards that applied in the Melendez case. The policy still allows troopers to pursue motorists who refuse to stop without limiting pursuits to violent or otherwise serious crimes.

The Attorney General’s Office recommended narrowing the policy so fewer offenses could serve as the basis for a high-speed pursuit.