Mayor, former police chief subpoenaed in Daniel Prude investigation

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The law firm hired by Rochester City Council to investigate the death of Daniel Prude subpoenaed several others Thursday, including Mayor Lovely Warren and former Rochester Police Chief La’Ron Singletary.

City Council, acting through an independent investigator, is seeking evidence and witness testimony.

The latest subpoenas come weeks after City Council hired New York City-based lawyer Andrew Celli to lead an independent investigation of various city departments in the wake of Prude’s death.

Prude was not breathing and had no pulse after officers restrained and handcuffed him on Jefferson Avenue in March. He died seven days later in the hospital after being taken off life support. The Monroe County Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide and said Prude died from complications of asphyxia due to physical restraint, excited delirium, and PCP.

Celli said they’re going to create a timeline to figure out how government officials talked with each other and to find out what they knew and when they knew it.

In addition to Warren and Singletary, Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP issued subpoenas Thursday to City Councilmember Mary Lupien, Corporation Counsel Tim Curtin, former Rochester Police Deputy Chief Joseph Morabito, city attorney Stephanie Prince, former Chief of Staff Alex Yudelson, Rochester Police Lt. Steven Swetman, and the City of Rochester’s Communications Director Justin Roj.

Warren suspended Curtin and Roj without pay in September.

Warren and Singletary are expected to testify in front of Rochester City Council’s Independent Investigation Committee via video conference on Nov. 6.

Click here for full coverage on the death of Daniel Prude.