Grand jury to probe death of black man hooded by NY police

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NEW YORK, Sept 6, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – New York’s attorney general
announced Saturday she would form a grand jury to probe the death of a
black man whom police had hooded and forced face-down on a road.

Daniel Prude’s family said he died on March 30 after being removed
from life support, seven days after his detention by police in the
city of Rochester.

He is the latest African-American to die after an encounter with
law enforcement, cases that have galvanized protests around the United
States.

The grand jury represents a bolstering of the authorities’ response
to Prude’s death as the panel has the power to issue indictments.

“The Prude family and the Rochester community have been through
great pain and anguish,” New York state Attorney General Letitia James
said in a statement.

“My office will immediately move to empanel a grand jury as part of
our exhaustive investigation into this matter.”

The announcement came the day after protesters, some wearing
helmets and carrying shields, clashed with police during a
demonstration in Rochester sparked by Prude’s death.

“I applaud @NewYorkStateAG for taking swift, decisive action in
empaneling a grand jury — justice delayed is justice denied and the
people of New York deserve the truth,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said on
Twitter.

Prude’s family and activists made his death public Wednesday, after
receiving body cam footage through an open records request.

Joe Prude told journalists he had called police March 23 as his
brother suffered a mental health episode.

“I placed a phone call for my brother to get help, not to get
lynched,” Joe Prude said Wednesday.

When officers arrived, Daniel Prude was unarmed and naked in the
road, according to the video.

Police ordered an initially compliant Prude to get on the ground,
but after being handcuffed he became increasingly agitated.

Officers then put a “spit hood” on him and forced his head to the
pavement. Moments later he lost consciousness.

He died in a hospital a week later, when life support was switched off.

Local media said an autopsy ruled the death a homicide caused by
“complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint.”