Officials in Rochester, New York, have decided to pay $12 million to the children of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died after being held down by police until he stopped breathing while fleeing naked through the city’s cold streets. The settlement was approved by a federal judge in a court document issued on Thursday.
Mayor Malik D. Evans of Rochester stated in a press release that the arrangement was “the best decision” for the city.
Evans, who was not in office when Prude passed away in March 2020, stated, “Litigation would have cost taxpayers even more money and had a devastating impact on our community.”
According to solicitors, the settlement funds would be distributed to Prude’s five children, who are heirs to the estate.
“No amount of money can bring Daniel Prude back,” said family attorney Elliot Shields. “We are pleased that the money will compensate the children of Daniel Prude for this tragedy.”
Attorney Matthew Piers, who represents the administrator of the estate, stated, “I believe that the amount of money is adequate to demonstrate that the Community of Rochester acknowledges that something terrible occurred and that it is crucial for the city to put it behind it and go ahead.”
Prude, man 41, was accosted by police after his brother called to report that he required mental health assistance. Prude had been sent to a hospital earlier that evening for a psychiatric evaluation, but he was freed after a few hours and afterwards fled his brother’s residence.
Prude complied with police requests to get on the ground and place his hands behind his back, as evidenced by surveillance footage. As he sat on the sidewalk shackled, he became agitated.
The police then placed a cover over his head to prevent him from spitting and restrained him for around two minutes until he stopped breathing. Several days after he was taken off life support, he passed away.
The county medical examiner ruled his death a homicide due to “complications of asphyxia in the context of physical constraint” and listed PCP as a factor.
The policemen stated that they adhered to their instruction. A grand jury declined to file criminal charges against them last year.
The relatives’ attorneys asserted that Prude’s constitutional rights were violated by the police activities and what they termed a cover-up attempt by the department and the government.
Emails revealed that in June 2020, Rochester police commanders encouraged city authorities not to release the footage because they anticipated violent backlash if it was released during nationwide protests following the police shooting of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The video was eventually retrieved by Prude’s family and released in September 2020.