New York Attorney General Letitia James has released body-worn camera videos regarding the investigation into Matthew Brown's death. This incident took place on March 24, when members of the New York State Police (NYSP) responded to a 911 call in Oneida County.
Upon arrival at a house in Barneveld, Oneida County, at 11:14 p.m., NYSP troopers engaged with Mr. Brown and attempted to place him under custody for a mental health evaluation. During a struggle, Mr. Brown was restrained and handcuffed. Troopers called for an ambulance, but Mr. Brown became unresponsive before medical assistance arrived. He was declared dead after being taken to a local hospital shortly after 1:00 a.m. on March 25.
The Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) released the footage from the body-worn cameras used by the troopers during the incident. Attorney General James stated that releasing such footage is intended "to increase transparency and strengthen public trust in these matters."
As mandated by New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, the OSI reviews every incident involving police or peace officers that may have caused a person's death. This includes scenarios where the officer was on or off duty, and where the deceased might have been armed or unarmed. If an officer is suspected of causing a death, the OSI conducts a thorough investigation.
Attorney General James clarified that the release of the footage does not indicate any legal conclusions "as to the guilt or innocence of any party" nor does it express any opinion on potential criminal charges.
It was noted that the released videos contain material that viewers may find disturbing.