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Rochester to Pay $12 Million to Family of Man Killed by the Police Rochester to Pay $12 Million to Family of Man Killed by the Police
(about 1 hour later)
The family of Daniel Prude, a Black man whose 2020 death after being restrained by Rochester, N.Y., police officers roiled a nation already reeling from other police-involved killings, has come to a $12 million settlement with the city.The family of Daniel Prude, a Black man whose 2020 death after being restrained by Rochester, N.Y., police officers roiled a nation already reeling from other police-involved killings, has come to a $12 million settlement with the city.
The city’s mayor, Malik D. Evans, said in a statement on Thursday that the city had settled the lawsuit in order to avoid additional legal fees and the prospect of continued litigation taking “a painful toll on our community.”The city’s mayor, Malik D. Evans, said in a statement on Thursday that the city had settled the lawsuit in order to avoid additional legal fees and the prospect of continued litigation taking “a painful toll on our community.”
Under the settlement, the city will admit no liability in Mr. Prude’s death.Under the settlement, the city will admit no liability in Mr. Prude’s death.
A lawyer for the Prude family, Matthew Piers, said in a statement that while money could not “truly address the fundamental problem of police violence that underlies this tragic case,” he hoped the case might lead to a deeper evaluation of police brutality.A lawyer for the Prude family, Matthew Piers, said in a statement that while money could not “truly address the fundamental problem of police violence that underlies this tragic case,” he hoped the case might lead to a deeper evaluation of police brutality.
“Policing in this country must be reformed to be more humane,” Mr. Piers said. “This is true especially, but not only, in communities of color that are so frequently harmed by systems that purport to serve and protect them.”“Policing in this country must be reformed to be more humane,” Mr. Piers said. “This is true especially, but not only, in communities of color that are so frequently harmed by systems that purport to serve and protect them.”
Mr. Prude, 41, had been visiting Rochester, a midsize city in Western New York, in March 2020 when he ran out of his brother’s home in an apparently erratic state. His brother called 911, prompting a police response.Mr. Prude, 41, had been visiting Rochester, a midsize city in Western New York, in March 2020 when he ran out of his brother’s home in an apparently erratic state. His brother called 911, prompting a police response.
The police apprehended Mr. Prude — unarmed and naked on a freezing cold night — and handcuffed him, before he began spitting at officers, who then placed a hood on his head. When he tried to rise, officers pinned Mr. Prude face down, as one pushed his face to the pavement, as video footage of the incident showed. He was held down for two minutes, and had to be resuscitated; a week later, he died at a local hospital. The police apprehended Mr. Prude — unarmed and naked on a freezing cold night, and shouting that he was infected with coronavirus. The police handcuffed him, before he began spitting at officers, who then placed a hood on his head. When he tried to rise, officers pinned Mr. Prude face down, as one pushed his face to the pavement, as video footage of the incident showed. He was held down for two minutes, and had to be resuscitated; a week later, he died at a local hospital.
Less than two weeks after Mr. Prude’s death, the Monroe County medical examiner ruled that it was a homicide caused by “complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint.” The report also noted as contributing factors, Mr. Prude’s “excited delirium” and acute intoxication by PCP.Less than two weeks after Mr. Prude’s death, the Monroe County medical examiner ruled that it was a homicide caused by “complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint.” The report also noted as contributing factors, Mr. Prude’s “excited delirium” and acute intoxication by PCP.
Still, it was more than five months until the nature of Mr. Prude’s death became public after his family released body-cam footage in early September 2020 documenting his treatment at the hands of the police.Still, it was more than five months until the nature of Mr. Prude’s death became public after his family released body-cam footage in early September 2020 documenting his treatment at the hands of the police.
The revelations came in the wake of the May 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, a police killing of an unarmed Black man — also caught on video — which resulted in national protests over the treatment of Black citizens by the police. The news of the circumstances of Mr. Prude’s death also immediately sparked demonstrations in Rochester and beyond. The revelations came in the wake of the May 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, a police killing of an unarmed Black man — also caught on video — which resulted in national protests over the treatment of Black citizens by the police. The news of how Mr. Prudedied also immediately sparked demonstrations in Rochester and beyond.
Shortly after the release of the Prude video, the New York State attorney general, Letitia James, announced an investigation into the death, even as authorities in Rochester — including the mayor at the time, Lovely Warren, and the police chief, La’Ron D. Singletary — said that they, too, were investigating. Seven officers involved were quickly suspended.Shortly after the release of the Prude video, the New York State attorney general, Letitia James, announced an investigation into the death, even as authorities in Rochester — including the mayor at the time, Lovely Warren, and the police chief, La’Ron D. Singletary — said that they, too, were investigating. Seven officers involved were quickly suspended.
The police had initially suggested that Mr. Prude died of a drug overdose, but Mr. Singletary denied any cover-up in the investigation.The police had initially suggested that Mr. Prude died of a drug overdose, but Mr. Singletary denied any cover-up in the investigation.
Mr. Singletary soon resigned, however, even as documents emerged showing a pattern of delay tactics by the police and city officials to keep the video of his death out of the public eye. That included a stark, handwritten notation on a police report.Mr. Singletary soon resigned, however, even as documents emerged showing a pattern of delay tactics by the police and city officials to keep the video of his death out of the public eye. That included a stark, handwritten notation on a police report.
Scribbled in red over a box labeled “victim type,” it read: “Make him a suspect.”Scribbled in red over a box labeled “victim type,” it read: “Make him a suspect.”
(Ms. Warren also later resigned after a separate criminal inquiry by state authorities into her campaign fund-raising and after allegations of child endangerment.)(Ms. Warren also later resigned after a separate criminal inquiry by state authorities into her campaign fund-raising and after allegations of child endangerment.)
An independent report commissioned by the City Council in Rochester found that Ms. Warren, Mr. Singletary and other city officials had suppressed information about the incident, in part, “for fear that its release might cause civil unrest and violence” in the wake of the Floyd killing. An independent report commissioned by the City Council in Rochester found that Ms. Warren, Mr. Singletary and other city officials had withheld details about the incident, in part, “for fear that its release might cause civil unrest and violence” in the wake of the Floyd killing.
“Did officials of City government suppress information about the arrest and death of Daniel Prude between March 23, 2020, when the arrest occurred, and Sept. 2, 2020, when the Prude family publicly released body-worn camera footage of the incident?” the report’s authors wrote. “The straightforward answer is yes.”“Did officials of City government suppress information about the arrest and death of Daniel Prude between March 23, 2020, when the arrest occurred, and Sept. 2, 2020, when the Prude family publicly released body-worn camera footage of the incident?” the report’s authors wrote. “The straightforward answer is yes.”
Yet, beyond political and professional fallout, there were no criminal charges ever brought in the death of Mr. Prude, a father of five from Chicago. In February 2021, Ms. James announced that a grand jury she had convened declined to bring charges against any of the seven officers on the scene that night. Mr. Singletary has since launched a bid for the House of Representatives, running as a Republican in New York’s 25th Congressional District, which includes Rochester.Yet, beyond political and professional fallout, there were no criminal charges ever brought in the death of Mr. Prude, a father of five from Chicago. In February 2021, Ms. James announced that a grand jury she had convened declined to bring charges against any of the seven officers on the scene that night. Mr. Singletary has since launched a bid for the House of Representatives, running as a Republican in New York’s 25th Congressional District, which includes Rochester.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court last year, argued that “Rochester has maintained a policy of deliberate indifference to the rights of people of color who encounter its police officers, in particular those people experiencing mental health crises.”The lawsuit, filed in federal court last year, argued that “Rochester has maintained a policy of deliberate indifference to the rights of people of color who encounter its police officers, in particular those people experiencing mental health crises.”
In announcing the settlement, Mr. Evans, made no mention of the police, but seemed eager to turn the page on a tragic event in his city. Mr. Prude had apparently suffered just such a crisis in the course of traveling to Rochester to visit his brother, and was kicked off an Amtrak train en route. A gregarious warehouse and bakery worker in Chicago, he had also about three dozen arrests since 1998 according to Cook County records, mostly for minor crimes like drug possession, though at least two were for violent fights with domestic partners.
Hours before his interaction with the Rochester police, Mr. Prude’s brother had him hospitalized for an evaluation, but doctors had released him. And hours after that, Mr. Prude fled his brother’s home onto Rochester’s streets.
The $12 million settlement is just the latest in a string of substantial payments made to the families of victims of police-related killings, including a $27 million settlement in Mr. Floyd’s case last year. It was also equal to the amount paid by city officials in Louisville, Ky., in 2020 to the family of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician who was shot and killed in a botched drug raid.
In his announcement, Mr. Evans made no mention of the police, but seemed eager to turn the page on a tragic event in his city.
“It is now time to look forward,” he said, “so we may work together and focus our efforts on Rochester’s future.”“It is now time to look forward,” he said, “so we may work together and focus our efforts on Rochester’s future.”