The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has initiated a probe into the death of Henry Sanders. Sanders died on August 1, 2024, after an interaction with members of the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) in Suffolk County, New York.
SCPD officers responded to a store on North 15th Street and Merritt Avenue in Wyandanch at around 10:22 a.m. on the day of the incident. They were called to the scene following multiple 911 calls. Upon arrival, Sanders was taken into custody by SCPD officers. Shortly afterward, Sanders became unresponsive and was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
According to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI evaluates every reported incident where a police officer or a peace officer, including corrections officers, may have caused a person’s death by an action or failure to act. The law covers officers whether they are on duty or not and irrespective of whether the deceased was armed, in custody, or incarcerated. If OSI’s initial assessment suggests an officer might have caused the death, a comprehensive investigation is launched.
The preliminary assessment of the incident began after Sanders’ death. Recent information received by OSI has led to the decision to commence a formal investigation. The facts, as mentioned, are preliminary and may evolve as the investigation progresses.