Let’s think about this
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISSUED BY THE CLARKSTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT ON 06/06/2023
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On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, officers responded to a Domestic Incident at 60 W. Broadway in Central Nyack. Upon arrival, they were met by a male holding a metal baseball bat, standing adjacent to the front entrance of his residence beside an adult female.
Upon officers arrival, they were met by the mother of Mr. Harris and a mental health counselor that had been assigned to him. The counselor states that she was present inside the residence, as she makes frequent visits to the home to check up on Mr. Sean Harris, age 19, of Central Nyack. She stated that while trying to communicate with Sean in the basement of the home, he refused to converse. He then came into the kitchen area, where both she and the mother were talking, started destroying items with a baseball bat, and threatened to kill his mother. It was at this point the counselor left the residence and called police.
Officers communicated to Mr. Harris several times to drop the bat, which he refused. An officer attempted to disarm him. Mr. Harris was struck by a less lethal impact munition on the lower left abdomen and retreated into his home. Although officers continued attempting to communicate with him while he was in the home, he refused to engage. Officers were able to see that he was moving about the house as he walked past windows. The Clarkstown Police Department Negotiator Team was utilized at this time and were able to successfully start a dialogue with Mr. Harris. While communicating with our negotiation team, Mr. Harris made additional threats to officers, stating that he was in possession of a Glock 17 handgun. The Crisis Negotiator Team continued negotiations with…
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... Mr. Harris for over an hour after which he ceased communicating with the negotiators. After numerous attempts to re-establish communication, it was decided for Clarkstown Police CIRT (Critical Incident Response Team) to enter the home.
At this point, CIRT members on scene made entry into the home, where they found the male, Mr. Harris, in a seated position in the bathroom of the residence. Next to him officers observed approximately two dozen opened pill bottles containing hundreds of pills. Officers removed Mr. Harris from the bathroom and began performing CPR. Rockland Medics and ambulance staff entered the home and resumed medical care. Mr. Harris was transported to Montefiore Nyack Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The official cause of death has not been ruled on by the Rockland County Medical Examiner's office at this time.
In accordance with Section 70-b of the Executive Law, the NYS Attorney General's office was contacted by the Clarkstown Police Department. This is to ensure that the Office of Special Investigations would be notified and an independent investigation, aside from this department’s investigation, will be conducted.
Media Contact: Detective Norm Peters
Office (845)708-2570 / n.peters@clarkstownpd.org