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| Denis Reyes' grieving family demands answers a month after death during NYPD encounter | Denis Reyes' grieving family demands answers a month after death during NYPD encounter |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Related: 'He couldn’t breathe': the NYPD, mental illness and Denis Reyes' final minutes | Related: 'He couldn’t breathe': the NYPD, mental illness and Denis Reyes' final minutes |
| Under a blazing June sun on Saturday, the family of Denis Reyes laid to rest the son, brother, father and friend they called “Puro”. | Under a blazing June sun on Saturday, the family of Denis Reyes laid to rest the son, brother, father and friend they called “Puro”. |
| The 40-year-old died after a nearly 20-minute encounter with several officers of the New York police department, in his mother’s living room one month ago. Now, as the crush of shock and grief softens, the family is demanding answers. | The 40-year-old died after a nearly 20-minute encounter with several officers of the New York police department, in his mother’s living room one month ago. Now, as the crush of shock and grief softens, the family is demanding answers. |
| On 14 May, Reyes, who suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, had not been feeling well. That evening, he began behaving erratically, throwing furniture. His mother, Blanca Sierra, called 911 and asked for an ambulance. Police arrived first. One hour later, at a nearby hospital, Reyes was pronounced dead. | On 14 May, Reyes, who suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, had not been feeling well. That evening, he began behaving erratically, throwing furniture. His mother, Blanca Sierra, called 911 and asked for an ambulance. Police arrived first. One hour later, at a nearby hospital, Reyes was pronounced dead. |
| “It’s been a nightmare,” Wilnelia Reyes told the Guardian, at her brother’s memorial service in the Bronx on Friday. “We just want the truth. We want more answers.” | “It’s been a nightmare,” Wilnelia Reyes told the Guardian, at her brother’s memorial service in the Bronx on Friday. “We just want the truth. We want more answers.” |
| Since her brother’s death, Wilnelia Reyes and her family have decided to move back to New York, from Kissimmee, Florida, so that they can take care of her mother, whose depression she says has become debilitating. | |
| Reyes, who is one year younger than her brother, set up an online fundraiser to gather donations for his funeral, raising more than $2,500. She said the family decided to wait until after her brother is buried to pursue legal options. | |
| At the memorial service, family members took turns praying before the casket. Others, including friends and neighbors, quietly recounted the story of his death, likening it to the recent spate of police killings that have inspired protests around the country. | At the memorial service, family members took turns praying before the casket. Others, including friends and neighbors, quietly recounted the story of his death, likening it to the recent spate of police killings that have inspired protests around the country. |
| “I can’t believe this happened to us,” one woman, who identified herself only as a family friend, whispered to the woman next to her. “It’s like what happened in Boston.” | “I can’t believe this happened to us,” one woman, who identified herself only as a family friend, whispered to the woman next to her. “It’s like what happened in Boston.” |
| “Baltimore,” the other woman corrected her. | “Baltimore,” the other woman corrected her. |
| Family and neighbors who witnessed the arrival of police on 14 May say the officers removed Sierra from the home and pulled down the living room shade. Wilfredo Bracero, Reyes’ brother who was inside the apartment during the encounter, said he saw officers restrain Reyes, and handcuff him. Bracero also said he saw officers on top of his brother, who he said vomited several times. | Family and neighbors who witnessed the arrival of police on 14 May say the officers removed Sierra from the home and pulled down the living room shade. Wilfredo Bracero, Reyes’ brother who was inside the apartment during the encounter, said he saw officers restrain Reyes, and handcuff him. Bracero also said he saw officers on top of his brother, who he said vomited several times. |
| In an incident report provided to the Guardian, police said Reyes went into cardiac arrest inside an ambulance. But the family believes he was already dead when he was carried out of the apartment. Reyes was pronounced dead at St Barnabas hospital in the Bronx. An autopsy report is pending. | In an incident report provided to the Guardian, police said Reyes went into cardiac arrest inside an ambulance. But the family believes he was already dead when he was carried out of the apartment. Reyes was pronounced dead at St Barnabas hospital in the Bronx. An autopsy report is pending. |
| “He was a loveable person,” said Denise Camacho, 13, who is named after her father. “He was a good person. He had his downs but he tried really hard.” | “He was a loveable person,” said Denise Camacho, 13, who is named after her father. “He was a good person. He had his downs but he tried really hard.” |
| Camacho is one of Reyes’ seven children, who are aged between four and 20. When cleaning out her brother’s bedroom, Wilnelia Reyes said, she found a stack of letters his children had written to him. They had been folded and carefully saved. | Camacho is one of Reyes’ seven children, who are aged between four and 20. When cleaning out her brother’s bedroom, Wilnelia Reyes said, she found a stack of letters his children had written to him. They had been folded and carefully saved. |
| “He loved all of his kids to death,” Reyes said. “He had his ups and downs, but he loved those kids.” | “He loved all of his kids to death,” Reyes said. “He had his ups and downs, but he loved those kids.” |
| Reyes, who was born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, was laid to rest in Hackensack, New Jersey, because it was the nearest affordable option to his family’s 194th street apartment. | Reyes, who was born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, was laid to rest in Hackensack, New Jersey, because it was the nearest affordable option to his family’s 194th street apartment. |
| “We just want to know the truth,” said Rosie Rosado, Reyes’ former partner, with whom he had one son. “If it was something natural, then let it be. But if someone contributed to his death, then we want to know.” | “We just want to know the truth,” said Rosie Rosado, Reyes’ former partner, with whom he had one son. “If it was something natural, then let it be. But if someone contributed to his death, then we want to know.” |
| On Saturday, Reyes was laid to rest. The casket was decorated with red roses and white ribbon. | On Saturday, Reyes was laid to rest. The casket was decorated with red roses and white ribbon. |