New York Attorney General Letitia James has made public footage from body-worn cameras related to the investigation into the death of Henry Sanders. Sanders died on August 1, 2024, after an encounter with Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) officers in Suffolk County.
The Office of Special Investigation (OSI) within the Attorney General’s Office released the footage as part of its ongoing inquiry. This action follows Attorney General James’ directive for transparency and public trust enhancement by releasing camera footage obtained during OSI investigations.
On August 1, at around 10:22 AM, SCPD officers responded to multiple 911 calls at a store located on North 15th Street and Merritt Avenue in Wyandanch, Suffolk County. Officers found Mr. Sanders outside the store and attempted to detain him. During this process, Mr. Sanders appeared unresponsive while being handcuffed and was subsequently taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
According to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI evaluates every incident reported where a police or peace officer might have caused a person’s death through action or omission. The law applies whether the officer is on-duty or off-duty and regardless of whether the deceased was armed or in custody. If OSI’s assessment suggests possible officer involvement in causing death, it proceeds with a full investigation.
The release of this footage does not imply any opinion regarding guilt or innocence in any criminal matter nor does it suggest if anyone should be charged with a crime.
A warning accompanies the video stating that it contains potentially disturbing content for viewers.
