By Hank Russell
The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of Emilson Yoan Ordonez-Vanegas, who died on July 13, following an encounter with members of the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) in Centereach.
Shortly after 8:30 a.m. on July 13, SCPD officers responded to a 911 call reporting an assault with a knife behind retail stores in Centereach. When officers arrived on the scene, they encountered an individual with lacerations to his hand and neck.
While EMTs rendered aid to the injured individual, Ordoñez-Banegas allegedly advanced toward the injured individual with what appeared to be a knife in his hand. One officer discharged his service weapon, striking Mr. Ordoñez-Banegas. Mr. Ordoñez-Banegas was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officers recovered a knife at the scene.
As previously reported in Long Island Life & Politics, the SCPD announced that the agency will report the incident to the OAG. It was also reported that Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said the officer should be credits for his quick thinking.
“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. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty,” the OAG said in a statement. “ 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.”