Atlantic County prosecutor releases dramatic full body cam footage of Dr. James Kauffman arrest

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office released new footage Tuesday afternoon of the June arrest of a gun-brandishing, scrubs-wearing James Kauffman after a standoff when state, local and federal law enforcement arrived to execute a search warrant at his Egg Harbor Township medical office.

Kauffman, 69, was arrested that day on weapons offenses. Earlier this month, he was charged with murder and racketeering in what prosecutors described as a murder-for-hire hit on his wife, April Kauffman, who was shot to death in the couple's Linwood home on May 10, 2012.

Also charged was Ferdinand "Freddy" Augello, a leader of the Pagan Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, who prosecutors said partnered with Kauffman in an illegal prescription opioid ring. Augello and Kauffman were both ordered held for trial last week by Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury. Augello was further charged with plotting to kill Kauffman inside the Atlantic County jail. Kauffman has since been moved to the jail in Hudson County.

The footage released Tuesday is the full video from Linwood Officer Charles Champion's body camera, portions of which were previously played in court. Toward the end of the video, Kauffman can be seen and heard talking with officers while under arrest, giving them directions to the keys to various safes (located in what he calls "the gun room"). He also apologized for his messy desk.

Before the arrest, Champion can be heard requesting additional firepower after Kauffman came out of the office holding a gun to his chest, saying "I'm not being arrested!" and "I'm not going to jail for this."

"We need more rifles over here," Champion says into the radio. "ASAP."

Another time he tells another officer to stand behind him because "I've got a vest."

Kauffman surrenders around minute 37 of the 55-minute video, being instructed to walk backward with his hands up by an officer speaking over a megaphone as others have their guns drawn, one group with a shield. He then kneels on the ground and the officers approach him from behind.

After being arrested, Kauffman and another officer talk, and Kauffman says, "Now what happens?"

He repeatedly told the officers, "I'm fine," but he was taken by Egg Harbor Township ambulance for a psychiatric evaluation because they said he had threatened suicide.

"I know you're a doctor, but we have certain things we have to follow," he is told after objecting to being handcuffed because of "shoulder issues," to not having access to his phone, and to being taken to the hospital. The endocrinologist, who had a busy practice until his license was revoked when he went to jail, gave the password to his phone as "GLANDS69." He stressed that the phone contained "my whole life."

He is also told by an FBI officer that they are looking at "allegations of medical fraud." Kauffman is also suspected as playing a role in an unrelated prescription drug fraud involving public employees and their state health insurance plans that is alleged to have involved hundreds of police officers, firefighters and teachers. Eleven people have so far been charged in U.S. District Court in Camden.

When asked for his date of birth — April 18, 1949 — Kauffman comments, "I'm an old guy."

"Will I get my car back? Like today?" he asks at one point.

"We'll see how it goes," he's told.