Body camera footage from the incident leading to Henry Sanders' death on August 1, 2024, has been released to the public by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The footage, obtained from the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) officers at the scene, was made public as part of an ongoing investigation by the Office of Special Investigation (OSI) into the fatal encounter in Wyandanch, Suffolk County. This move, as directed by James, seeks to enhance transparency and build public trust in the investigatory process.
In the released footage, SCPD officers were shown responding to a call from a store at the intersection of North 15th Street and Merritt Avenue after receiving multiple 911 calls. Upon arrival, they attempted to apprehend Mr. Sanders, who became unresponsive during the arrest attempt, as per the Attorney General's Office. He was swiftly transported to a local hospital, the situation, unfolding at 10:22 AM, concluded with his pronouncement of death.
The OSI's mandate, as outlined in New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, involves reviewing every report where a police or peace officer may have contributed to an individual's death by act or omission. These cases can involve officers on or off duty, and encompass scenarios where the deceased may be armed or unarmed, in custody, or not. Attorney General's Office has emphasized that the unveiling of this footage does not imply any preconception of guilt or innocence in relation to the incident, nor does it suggest how any individual may be charged.
