UPDATE: Two men have tragically died in NYPD custody in separate incidents following their arrests for low-level offenses, raising urgent questions about police practices and the treatment of vulnerable populations.
Musa Cetin, aged 29, was arrested in Midtown Manhattan for operating an unlicensed pedicab. Authorities report that he was found hanged in his cell on July 15, 2023. Officers last checked on him at 8:20 PM Friday night, discovering him unresponsive just 15 minutes later. Emergency medical responders rushed him to Bellevue Hospital, where he remained on life support for two days before being pronounced dead on Sunday. Cetin, a Turkish citizen, had recently applied for asylum, according to his lawyer.
In a separate incident in Brooklyn, Christopher Nieves, aged 46, was arrested on July 14, 2023, for allegedly shoplifting food from a Whole Foods. While awaiting arraignment, he suffered a medical episode around 10:15 PM that same night, resulting in his death. The city’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is currently investigating both fatalities.
These tragic events come as the NYPD intensifies enforcement of low-level crimes, with more than 14,000 arrests for petit larceny in the first half of this year alone—on pace to surpass last year’s record of 27,000. Despite a drop in major crimes under NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who asserts that record-low shootings are a priority, the increase in arrests for minor offenses raises concerns about the impact on marginalized communities.
Critics, including defense attorneys, argue that targeting “crimes of poverty” exacerbates cycles of incarceration and fails to address underlying issues such as poverty and mental illness. “Throw them in jail, throw them in jail, throw them in jail, but we don’t actually get at what is causing the underlying behavior and attempt to solve that,” said Arielle Reid, director of the Decarceration Project at the Legal Aid Society.
The deaths of Cetin and Nieves underscore the potentially fatal consequences of prioritizing low-level arrests, particularly for vulnerable populations such as migrants and the homeless. As the NYPD continues to scrutinize minor offenses, the community is left grappling with the implications of these policies.
Authorities have confirmed that the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is reviewing both cases. As the investigations unfold, the city will likely face increasing scrutiny over its approach to policing and public safety. Residents are urged to stay informed about these developing situations and the broader implications for New York City’s justice system.
This urgent matter touches on vital issues of public safety and the treatment of individuals in custody, prompting calls for reform and increased accountability within the NYPD. As New Yorkers react to this alarming news, discussions about the future of policing and community safety are sure to intensify.
