Newly released footage shows the events that transpired leading to the eventual death of Daniel Prude. Bodycam footage from Rochester police released on Wednesday gave the public its first view of what happened during the March encounter.
From the video, Daniel Prude is seen as acting extremely erratic. The autopsy report showed that the man had small amounts of PCP in his system at the time of death. Prude was naked, handcuffed, and unarmed when police placed a "spit hood" over his head before pinning him to the pavement, facedown, for at least 2 minutes, while ignoring his pleas.
Officers reportedly became worried after Prude became silent. Shortly after, Prude was taken in an ambulance to a nearby hospital where he laid on life support for roughly a week before being pronounced dead on March 30. The Monroe County Medical Examiner cited the official cause of death as "complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint."
Prude's family is demanding the officers be prosecuted for the death of Daniel. The family is also filing a wrongful death lawsuit. State Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement, "The death of Daniel Prude was a tragedy, and I extend my deepest condolences to his family," adding, "I share the community’s concerns about ensuring a fair and independent investigation into his death and support their right to protest. Pursuant to Executive Order 147, the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit of my office is already actively investigating this incident. As with every investigation, we will follow the facts of this case and ensure a complete and thorough examination of all relevant parties. We will work tirelessly to provide the transparency and accountability that all our communities deserve."
Source: apnews.com
