A grand jury voted against file charges against the seven police officers involved in the death of Daniel Prude, New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) announced on Tuesday.
James said during a press conference that her office presented an “extensive case” to the grand jury and made “every attempt to demonstrate the facts. But, ultimately, we have to respect the decision ”.
Prude, a black man, died on March 30, a week after being arrested after running naked through the streets. The video of police officers arresting him and putting a “spit hood” over his head went viral, attracting national outrage.
Prude’s death gained attention after his family released images of the incident in early September, accusing the city of covering up his death. The incident itself occurred two months before George Floyd’s police murder in Minneapolis last May, sparking months of protests against police brutality.
A coroner determined that his death was a homicide caused by “choking complications in an environment of physical restraint”.
James’s office released a 200-page report on Tuesday concluding that there was sufficient evidence to present the case to a grand jury, as well as recommendations for reforming the laws on the use of force.
“Current lethal force laws have created a system that has failed utterly and abjectly for Mr. Prude and so many others before him. Serious reform is needed, not just in the Rochester Police Department, but in our criminal justice system as a whole, ”said James in a statement accompanying the report’s release. “I will seek a multifaceted approach to address the same issues that prevent us from holding officers accountable when they misuse lethal force.”
Amid the consequences of Prude’s death, the officers involved were suspended for payment, and Rochester, NY police chief La’Ron Singletary, retired. Documents later released by the city of Rochester showed that the police tried to withhold information about Prude’s death for months.
Updated at 17:08