In a recent report released by New York Attorney General Letitia James' Office of Special Investigation, findings on the October 2023 death of Woody Smith after an altercation with Troy Police Department officers were detailed. According to the Attorney General report, the investigation did not find sufficient evidence to charge the officers with a crime, stating that a prosecutor would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers' actions led to Mr. Smith's death.
The incident occurred when officers responded to a trespassing call; in the process of their investigation, they witnessed Mr. Smith exiting a residence through a window, and when a confrontation ensued and after struggling with him, they placed Mr. Smith in handcuffs, during the struggle, Mr. Smith informed officers that he could not breathe but became unresponsive shortly after being handcuffed. Despite the officers' attempts at providing first aid until emergency services arrived, Smith was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. The medical examiner's findings noted that the cause of death was a combination of acute drug intoxication, pre-existing health conditions, and exertion during the physical encounter with the police, with no evidence pointing to asphyxia or improper restraint by the officers.
The justification for the use of force by law enforcement in New York permits physical force when reasonably necessary during an arrest, and the investigation concludes that the officers had cause to arrest Mr. Smith for the reported offense. This conclusion is based on their observation of Mr. Smith's actions, as well as the call reporting an intruder which gave the officers reasonable cause to believe that an offense had taken place, therefore their conduct was found to be legally permissible.
While acknowledging that the struggle may have contributed to Smith's demise, the Office of Special Investigations found that there just isn't enough proof to charge the officers in the death of Woody Smith stating "Given the evidence, OSI concludes that there is insufficient proof that the officers caused Mr. Smith’s death." The full report is available to the public, as per Attorney General James’ Office.
