Prisoner Found Dead In Nassau County Correctional Center: Police

EAST MEADOW, NY — Nassau police are investigating a death at the Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow.

On Thursday morning, officers and a police media responded to a call for a man not breathing, authorities said.

A 42-year-old man was found in his cell unresponsive, police said. He was pronounced dead by the medic, and the body was taken to the county's medical examiner's office for further investigation, police said.

The New York Attorney General's office is also looking into the circumstances surrounding the inmate's death, police said.

According to Newsday, the man was an ICE detainee, the first such death in Nassau custody.

ICE did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Patch.

"There is an ongoing investigation, which will be thorough and transparent, to determine the cause of death. Nassau County takes seriously its obligation to treat every prisoner humanely," said Nassau County Sheriff Anthony LaRrocco.

According to the New York Post, in a partnership with federal officials, Nassau County has designated 50 cells at the jail for ICE detainees; the feds were slated to reimburse the county $195 per detainee, per night, the outlet said.

"A death in Nassau’s jail is a tragedy that demands answers," said Legislator Seth Koslow (D-Merrick), who is also running for county executive. "Bruce Blakeman has turned our jail into a political experiment by putting his political buddies in charge instead of focusing on safety and accountability. I’m calling for a legislative hearing to ensure transparency, responsibility, and justice for all residents, including anyone in our jails.”