By Hank Russell
The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of a man after Suffolk County police took him into custody from a Wyandanch store.
Henry Sanders died on August 1, 2024, following an encounter with members of the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD).
On that day at approximately 10:22 a.m., SCPD officers responded to a store on North 15th Street and Merritt Avenue after receiving multiple 911 calls. Upon arrival, they encountered Sanders and took him into custody. Sanders appeared to become unresponsive and was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
One of Sanders’ relatives told CBS New York a few days after Sanders’ death that Sanders was staying in a shelter in New York City, but did not know why he was in Wyandanch.
“Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission,” OSI said in a statement. “Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.”
OSI has been conducting a preliminary assessment of this matter since Sanders’ death. The recent receipt of new information indicated that it was appropriate for OSI to open a formal investigation.
Long Island Life & Politics reached out to the SCPD, but did not hear back as of press time.
OSI emphasized that these are preliminary facts and subject to change.