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Lawyer: Cops 'Violently Mishandled' Westchester Politician's Nephew's Death

Attorneys for 21-year-old Jonathan Maldonado said that police “violently mishandled the situation” that led to his death following an alleged shoplifting incident in Greenburgh last week.

Jonathan Maldonado

Jonathan Maldonado

Photo Credit: Contributed

Last week, Maldonado - Yonkers City Council President-elect Mike Khader’s nephew - died after being tasered by Greenburgh police following a struggle with officers. He had been accused of stealing from Best Buy on Central Avenue in Hartsdale.

At approximately 5:50 p.m. on Nov. 29, police said that officers were called to the Best Buy location following reports of a larceny in progress. Upon arrival, officers allegedly found Maldonado struggling with Best Buy security officials near Webb Field. Police officers were forced to use a taser to subdue him, he was then handcuffed.

Maldonado allegedly ingested several packets of an undisclosed substance before he was apprehended.

While in handcuffs, police said that Maldonado began to lose consciousness, and was treated by officers and EMS at the scene. He went into cardiac arrest in an ambulance and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital an hour later. Three officers suffered minor injuries during the scuffle

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office has taken over the investigation into Maldonado’s death.

“It's clear from the first statements put out by the Greenburgh Police Department that they want to place the blame squarely on Mr. Maldonado for causing his own death," Attorney Randolph McLaughlin said in a statement. “However, the first witness accounts we are hearing tell a very different story of who shoulders that responsibility - the store employees who pursued him and the police who violently mishandled the situation.”

In a statement, Khader asked for privacy as they grieve and continue to learn details of the incident.

“My family suffered the tragic loss of my nephew," Khader said in a statement last week. "We are communicating with law enforcement and still learning the details of what took place. Please respect my family's privacy during this difficult time.”

Greenburgh Police Chief Chris McNerney said the department has "confidence that the New York State Attorney General’s Office will conduct an independent, comprehensive and fair investigation into the tragic death of Jonathan Maldonado."

Anyone that witnessed the incident is urged to contact the State Attorney General’s Westchester Office at (914) 422-8794.

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