The Office of Special Investigation, led by Attorney General Letitia James, has launched a full-scale inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Henry Sanders. The investigation follows an altercation with the Suffolk County Police Department on August 1, 2024, according to a press release from the Attorney General’s office.
On that summer morning, shortly after 10 a.m., Sanders came into contact with Suffolk County officers who had responded to multiple 911 calls at a store located at the intersection of North 15th Street and Merritt Avenue in Wyandanch. The incident concluded with Sanders becoming unresponsive and later being pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
The Office of Special Investigation (OSI), authorized under New York State Executive Law Section 70-b to review any incident where a police officer’s actions or inaction may have led to a person’s death, has been conducting a preliminary assessment of the Sanders case since his passing. The agency is now launching a formal investigation following the emergence of new documentation or testimony that warrants further examination.
"The recent receipt of new information indicated that it was appropriate for OSI to open a formal investigation," the Attorney General's office detailed. The inquiry will cover both on-duty and off-duty incidents, involving victims who may have been armed or unarmed, and whether or not they were in custody. This reflects OSI’s comprehensive approach to ensuring a thorough and impartial review. The situation remains ongoing, and the findings may evolve as additional information becomes available.
