NEW YORK CITY — A 32-year-old man being held in police custody died inside Kings County Criminal Court in Brooklyn on Friday, police said.
The victim was found unresponsive around 8:25 a.m. inside 120 Schermerhorn Street.
The 32-year-old — identified as Soso Ramishvili — was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
According to The Legal Aid Society and Brooklyn Defender Services, the man had been arrested for a low-level crime and passed away 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.
The public defenders organizations did not name the victim by name but called for an independent investigation into the man's death.
According to a New York Daily News report, the 32-year-old was apparently arrested on March 18 after allegedly trying to shoplift from a Home Depot store.
The city's medical examiner will determine the official cause of death.
This is a developing story. This post may be updated.
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