Breaking: Entire Rochester Police Dept. command staff resigns over protests from the death of Daniel Prude​



Rochester Police Chief La'Ron Singletary resigned after days of protest over the death of Daniel Prude in police custody. Two deputy police chiefs also resigned.

Mayor Lovely Warren told the Rochester City Council about the resignations on Tuesday. When asked by reporters who would be in charge of law enforcement during expected protests that night, Warren said she wasn't certain.

"We would have to find an interim chief," Warren said. "Because I just got the call before this hearing, I don't know."

Singletary explained the reasons for his resignation in a news release. One report said City Council President Loretta C. Scott told News10NBC that Singletary would stay on until Sept. 28.

"Today, after 20 years of dedicated service to the Rochester Police Department and the Rochester Community, I announce my retirement from the Rochester Police Department. For the past two decades, I have served this community with honor, pride, and the highest integrity," Singletary said.

Daniel Prude, 41, died in March after being restrained by police officers that placed him in a spit hood. His family had called the police because the man was having a mental illness episode and a medical examiner said later that he was under "acute PCP intoxication."

The seven Rochester police officers involved in the Prude case have also been suspended.

Singletary said that he was resigning because his character was being maligned over the response to the death of Prude.

"As a man of integrity, I will not sit idly by while outside entities attempt to destroy my character. The events over the past week are an attempt to destroy my character and integrity," Singletary said.

"The members of the Rochester Police Department and the Greater Rochesters Community know my reputation and know what I stand for," he added. "The mischaracterization and the politicization of the actions that I took after being informed of Mr. Prude's death is not based on facts, and is not what I stand for."

Police Deputy Chief Joseph Morabito and Deputy Chief Mark Simmons also resigned.

While Singletary blamed "outside entities" for maligning his character, Mayor Warren had previously blamed the death of Prude on racism.

"Institutional and structural racism led to Daniel Prude's death. I won't deny it, I stand before it, and I call for justice upon it," she said.

Rochester Police Chief La'Ron Singletary retires in wake of Daniel Prude's death — September 8, 2020www.youtube.com

Rochester mayor says 7 cops have been suspended in the wake of asphyxiation death of Daniel Prude



Rochester, New York, Mayor Lovely Warren said that seven police officers were suspended in the wake of the asphyxiation death of Daniel Prude while in police custody. She also said that she had requested body cam video from the police department of the incident.

Prude's death was the latest incident of a black man dying in police custody that sparked outrage and protest.

"Mr. Daniel Prude was failed by our police department, our mental health care system, our society, and he was failed by me," said Warren. "I'm filled with grief, and anger at myself for all the failures that lead to his death."

Police were called by Prude's brother in March because the man was suffering from a mental episode. They arrived to find the man naked and attempting to break into a vehicle. They apprehended him and placed him in a spit hood because he had reportedly told them that he had contracted coronavirus.

Video of the altercation from police body cameras were released on Wednesday.

In the video, police push Prude to the ground as he becomes more agitated. They take a knee to his back, and press his face into the ground to subdue him, but he loses consciousness.

He was taken by paramedics to a hospital where he was declared brain dead, placed on life support, and died 7 days later.

The Monroe County medical examiner's office found that Prude died from "complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint," and noted acute PCP intoxication and "excited delirium" as contributing factors.

The videos were released after the family filed a freedom of information act request, and they have called for the officers to charged with murder.

Mayor Warren said that the death of Prude was caused by racism.

"Institutional and structural racism led to Daniel Prude's death. I won't deny it, I stand before it, and I call for justice upon it," she said.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released a statement in support of the investigation and denounced the death of Daniel Prude. "What I saw was deeply disturbing and I demand answers," said Cuomo.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Here's the video of Prude's lethal interaction with police:

Daniel Prude Death: Body Cam Video Shows Rochester Police Arrest | NBC New Yorkwww.youtube.com

Black man dies after police place him in spit hood, press face into pavement. Family demands cops be charged with murder, releases the bodycam footage.



The family of 41-year-old Daniel Prude, who died in March following an interaction with police in Rochester, New York, have just released the bodycam footage of his arrest.

Prude died in March after arresting officers placed him in a spit hood and held his face into the pavement for at least two minutes.

Prude's family held a news conference Wednesday night, demanding that the officers involved in Prude's detainment be fired and charged with murder.

What are the details?

According to a Wednesday evening report from the New York Times, police officers discovered Prude running around naked after his brother called 911 to report him as having a mental episode.

Just a day before his detainment, Prude reportedly visited a local hospital in hopes of obtaining psychiatric treatment.

Authorities found Prude, fully naked and reportedly attempting to break into a vehicle. Prude reportedly told authorities that he was infected with COVID-19 when they arrived on the scene.

In the footage, Prude can be seen handcuffed with his hands behind his back and shouting. Officers reportedly placed a spit hood on Prude to prevent him from spitting on police.

As the hood is placed over Prude's head, he can be heard shouting, "Give me that gun. Give me that gun."

Three officers push Prude to the ground, where he becomes further agitated.

At least one officer can be seen pushing Prude's head into the pavement. Another officer can be seen placing a knee in Prude's back.

An officer can be heard telling Prude to "calm down" and to stop spitting.

Snow falls lightly and quietly on the wet street.

After two minutes in this position, Prude falls lifeless and makes no more sounds.

An officer can be heard asking Prude, "You good, man?" and sees that Prude has vomited on the pavement.

(Content warning: Disturbing footage)

First responders arrive minutes later and attempt to resuscitate him with CPR. Medics take Prude to a nearby hospital, where he is declared brain dead and placed on life support.

He died in the hospital a week after the encounter with Rochester police.

How did the man die?

The Monroe County medical examiner's office determined Prude was killed due to "complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint."

Other contributing factors, however, included acute PCP intoxication and "excited delirium."

CNN reported that the autopsy also pointed out that Prude suffered from acute myocarditis and also had a history of severe respiratory acidosis.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James called Prude's death a "tragedy."

"[W]e will follow the facts of this case and ensure a complete and thorough examination of all relevant parties," James added in a recent news conference on Prude's death.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.