The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of Albert Melendez, Jr., who died on July 16, 2024 following an encounter with members of the New York State Police (NYSP) in Sullivan County.
On July 16 at approximately 2:20 a.m., NYSP were involved in a vehicle pursuit on Rock Hill Drive in the Sullivan County town of Thompson. The driver of the vehicle, Albert Melendez, 32, of Middletown, NY, stopped and attempted to turn around at the intersection of Rock Hill Drive and Emerald Place. Trooper Russell T. Peters exited his patrol vehicle and gave verbal commands for the Melendez to stop his vehicle. The vehicle continued forward and made contact with the Trooper who subsequently discharged his duty weapon striking Melendez. Troopers provided emergency medical care to Melendez, who was transported to Garnet Health Medical Center, where he died.
Peters sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident, received treatment at a local hospital, and has since been released. Peters, from Troop F, has been a member of the NYSP since September 2021.
Under New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, the OSI evaluates every incident reported to it where a police or peace officer, including corrections officers, may have caused a person’s death by act or omission. This law applies whether the officer is on duty or off duty and regardless of whether the decedent was armed or unarmed, in custody, or incarcerated. If the OSI’s assessment suggests an officer may have caused the death, it proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.
“On July 16, 2024, at approximately 2:20 a.m., New York State Police were involved in a vehicle pursuit on Rock Hill Drive in the Sullivan County town of Thompson. The driver of the vehicle, Albert Melendez, 32, of Middletown, NY, stopped and attempted to turn around at the intersection of Rock Hill Drive and Emerald Place. A Trooper exited his patrol vehicle and gave verbal commands for the Melendez to stop his vehicle. The vehicle continued forward and made contact with the Trooper who subsequently discharged his duty weapon striking Melendez. Troopers provided emergency medical care to Melendez, who was transported to Garnet Health Medical Center, where he died. ” I think you missed a part in your reporting.
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