RPD announces departmental charges against 1 officer in Daniel Prude case

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — One of the Rochester Police officers involved in the handcuffing of Daniel Prude on March 23, 2020, was served with departmental charges Thursday.

Prude died when he was taken off of life support on March 30, 2020, seven days after he was restrained and handcuffed by Rochester

Police officers. The Medical Examiner ruled that he died from complications of asphyxia due to physical restraint, excited delirium and PCP.

Officer Mark Vaughn was the officer charged. The Rochester Police Department said none of the other six officers have been charged in the matter.

The RPD said a formal hearing will be scheduled “in the future” but did not provide a specific date.

The RPD release, which you can read in full below (mobile users, click here), did not specify what Vaughn is charged with.

Media Release 9.23.21 Vaughn by News10NBC on Scribd

Back in July, the RPD announced that it had completed its internal investigation into the Prude case, but it did not make the results public.

RELATED: News10NBC Investigates: Daniel Prude’s final hours

Mayor Lovely Warren suspended seven officers for their involvement in Prude’s death.

In February 2021, New York Attorney General James announced the officers involved would not be charged. A month later, an attorney hired to independently investigate the City of Rochester’s handling of the Prude case concluded the city "suppressed" information from getting to the public and made "untrue statements."