SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The New York State Attorney General’s Office has concluded its investigation into the May 31, 2023 in‑custody death of Alex Rivera and announced that no criminal charges will be pursued against members of the Syracuse Police Department.
Investigation findings
The AG’s report states that prosecutors could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers caused Rivera’s death. The report notes that Rivera was found on the bathroom floor of an apartment on Teall Avenue after multiple 911 calls reported he was barricaded, appeared to be under the influence, and was experiencing a psychotic episode.
Officers arrived shortly after 4 a.m., cuffed Rivera’s hands behind his back, and moved him to the building’s lawn while awaiting emergency medical services. Despite attempts to keep him in a recovery position, Rivera continued to move and speak incoherently. EMTs arrived, sedated him, and later placed him in an ambulance where he became unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital at 5 a.m.
Cause of death
The Attorney General’s office cites the medical examiner’s autopsy, which determined the cause of death to be acute polysubstance intoxication, including lethal levels of fentanyl and xylazine. The manner of death was ruled an “accident.” An independent forensic pathologist hired by the Office of Special Investigation (OSI) concurred with this finding and stated that neither the handcuffs nor the prone restraint contributed to Rivera’s death.
Legal standard applied
Under New York law, a homicide charge requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a person caused the death. Because the medical examiner and independent pathologist concluded the death was accidental and found no significant contribution from police actions, the AG’s office determined that a prosecutor would not meet the required burden of proof.
Agency response
The Attorney General’s Office emphasized that the decision reflects the legal standard, not an assessment of officer conduct. No further comment was provided regarding departmental policies or future training measures.
Residents and advocacy groups who have called for accountability will need to pursue civil remedies or policy reforms through other channels.
Original reporting: CNY Central WSTM (Sinclair) – local — read the source article.
