Seven Rochester, New York police officers were suspended with pay after bodycam footage showed the moments leading to Daniel Prude's death on March 23. The footage showed police placing a hood over a naked and handcuffed Prude's head and shoving his face into the ground for three minutes. The hood is referred to as a "spit sock," which is designed to shield officers from saliva.
Prude died seven days later of "complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint," "excited delirium," and PCP intoxication, according to a report from the medical examiner who ruled his death a homicide.
"Mr. Daniel Prude was failed by our police department, our mental health care system, our society, and he was failed by me," said Rochester mayor, Lovely Warren. "I am suspending the officers in question today, against the advice of counsel."
While the seven officers weren't named, Warren claimed she didn't see the footage until August 4th and was originally told by Police Chief La'Ron Singletary that Prude died of an overdose.
Prude's brother Joe called police to help Daniel, who was suffering "an acute, manic, psychotic episode," according to the Prude family's attorney. According to police documents, Joe told officers that his brother ran out of the house after being hospitalized earlier in the day for suicidal thoughts. Mayor Warren criticized the hospital for releasing Daniel Prude so soon.
"I placed the phone call for my brother to get help, not for my brother to get lynched," Joe said.
In addition to turning the case over to the New York Attorney General's office, Mayor Warren announced that the city of Rochester will proceed with an internal investigation.
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