NEWBURGH – State Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday following an encounter with New York State Police and City of Newburgh police officers earlier this year.
The footage was obtained as part of the Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation’s ongoing probe into the death of Burks, who died Jan. 1 after an interaction with law enforcement in the City of Newburgh.
In late-April, attorney Michael Sussman, who is representing Burks’ family said that the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled the death a homicide.
.According to the Attorney General’s Office, a state trooper attempted to stop Burks at approximately 10:32 p.m. on State Route 17K for a traffic violation. Authorities said Burks did not stop and continued driving at a high rate of speed before becoming involved in a collision with another vehicle.
Investigators said Burks exited his vehicle following the crash and struggled with the trooper as the officer attempted to restrain him. Officers from the City of Newburgh Police Department responded to the scene and used pepper spray and deployed at least one Taser while attempting to take Burks into custody, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
Burks later became unresponsive and was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Office of Special Investigation released the body camera footage under a directive issued by James requiring public disclosure of video evidence obtained during OSI investigations. The policy is intended to increase transparency and strengthen public trust in investigations involving deaths that occur during encounters with law enforcement.
The Attorney General’s Office emphasized that the release of the footage does not indicate any conclusion regarding criminal liability or whether any person will face charges.
Under New York Executive Law Section 70-b, the Office of Special Investigation reviews incidents in which a police officer, peace officer or corrections officer may have caused a person’s death through an act or omission. If investigators determine an officer may have caused the death, the office conducts a full investigation.
The investigation into Burks’ death remains ongoing.
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