Suffolk Man Dies In Police Custody After Drug Charges: PD

BAY SHORE, NY — A West Islip man died in police custody in Bay Shore Friday morning, police said.

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives and the Internal Affairs Bureau are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Joseph Leonard, 58, of West Islip, who died in police custody, police said.

At approximately 5:30 p.m. on April 25, Suffolk police found Leonard unconscious behind the wheel of his 2016 Jeep Wrangler after rear-ending another vehicle stopped at a light on Pine Aire Drive and 5th Avenue in Brentwoodand, according to Suffolk PD.

Officers removed him from the vehicle, rendered first aid and administered Narcan, police said. He was then arrested and transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore by Brentwood Legion Ambulance. Police said Leonard was treated and released into their custody.

Leonard was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs and two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said. He was also issued a summons for driving with a revoked license, police said.

According to Suffolk PD, Leonard was held overnight at the Third Precinct in Bay Shore. Then, while preparing to transport him to First District Court at approximately 9 a.m. on April 26, police found that he was not breathing in his holding cell.

First aid was administered and Leonard was pronounced dead at the precinct, police said.

Leonard’s cause of death will be determined during an autopsy by personnel from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner. The New York State Attorney General’s Office and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision were also notified, according to police.

This is a developing story.