Man Dies In NYPD Custody At Brooklyn Criminal Courthouse, Police Say

BROOKLYN, NY — Officials have identified a 46-year-old man who died inside a holding cell at Kings County Criminal Court on Friday night.

The NYPD said Christopher Nieves was found unconscious and unresponsive in his holding cell around 10:15 p.m. after experiencing a medical episode. Emergency responders arrived quickly but pronounced him dead at the scene.

Details surrounding Nieves’ death remain unclear at this time.

This is the second death in police custody this year at 120 Schermerhorn Street.

The first involved 32-year-old Soso Ramishvili of Brooklyn, who died in March, according to a previous report by Patch. The Legal Aid Society and Brooklyn Defender Services said Ramishvili had been arrested for a low-level offense before passing away while in NYPD custody.

"This person, who should have been granted a desk appearance and released based on the offense, languished in pain in custody for three days and was deprived of medical care despite repeated pleas from defense lawyers and other personnel to secure them needed care. This level of indifference is unconscionable," a joint statement read.