The household of 18-year-old Saniyah Cheatham is demanding solutions after the Bronx faculty scholar died in police custody earlier this month.
Cheatham died by hanging whereas held on the NYPD’s forty first Precinct after a July 4 arrest, in keeping with the medical expert.
“What occurred to her? I don’t consider she killed herself,” stated the teenager’s mom, Thomasina Cheatham, in keeping with NBC4 New York. “Possibly she stated one thing they didn’t like, they roughed her up. I don’t consider my daughter dedicated suicide.”
Based on the household, police informed them that Cheatham used a sweater to asphyxiate herself whereas in custody.
Her mom disputed this. “She didn’t have on a sweater that day. Oh, she hung herself on the bars? I want to see that,” Thomasina stated.
Cheatham, who was taken into custody after reportedly getting right into a battle with a buddy on July 4, was discovered unresponsive in her cell at roughly 12:40 a.m. on Saturday, July 6, in keeping with CBS Information. NYPD officers stated officers tried CPR till emergency responders arrived. She was then transported to Lincoln Hospital, the place she was pronounced lifeless later that morning.
Her loss of life has sparked outrage, along with her household and supporters demanding transparency and a full investigation.
Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who introduced he’s representing the household, joined them outdoors the precinct for a press convention on Monday, July 14—eight days after Cheatham’s loss of life. Crump stated Cheatham died underneath “extremely questionable circumstances” and urged the NYPD to launch surveillance footage from contained in the precinct.
“We’re demanding, from the NYPD, solutions,” Crump stated throughout the convention, in keeping with CBS Information. “It’s been 10 days since this tragedy. How lengthy, NYPD, earlier than we launch the video? How lengthy, NYPD, earlier than the household will get solutions? How lengthy, NYPD, earlier than we get accountability for the loss of life of this 18-year-old little one, this daughter?”
“It’s clear to us there should have been issues that had been missed. As a result of how does an 18-year-old wholesome woman find yourself lifeless? We’re right here to ask the NYPD to allow us to see,” he continued.
“Who was asleep on the wheel, to the place this 18-year-old little one ended up lifeless whereas she was in your care, in your custody? They’ve an obligation to ensure you are cared for whilst you’re of their custody. Why, why did they not look after Saniyah Cheatham?”
CBS Information reported that the NYPD has acknowledged that the division’s Drive Investigation Division is investigating the incident. Nonetheless, as of now, no surveillance footage has been launched, and the household maintains that they don’t consider Cheatham died by suicide.
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