Statement by Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman on Criminal Charges Against Wayne Isaacs
NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman issued the following statement September 27th:
In July of 2015, my office was appointed as Special Prosecutor in cases where an unarmed civilian dies during an encounter with police, and in cases where there is a significant question as to whether the civilian was armed and dangerous. Pursuant to that authority, on July 4th of this year, my Special Investigation and Prosecutions Unit launched an investigation into the death of Delrawn Small. We conducted a thorough investigation and, as I have always pledged, followed the facts where they led, without fear or favor. After a thorough investigation, we concluded that the evidence warranted a presentation to a grand jury. Yesterday, that grand jury voted, and returned an indictment of NYPD officer Wayne Isaacs on charges of Murder in the Second Degree and Manslaughter in the First Degree. Pursuant to that indictment, Mr. Isaacs was taken into custody this morning and arraigned today in Brooklyn Supreme Court. My office takes the prosecution of this matter very seriously, and intends to prove the alleged charges against Mr. Isaacs beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. At today’s arraignment, the judge granted our office’s request for bail at $500,000, along with the requirement that Mr. Isaac’s surrender his passport and firearms, restrict his travel, and wear an ankle bracelet to be monitored by the court. As is always the case in our system of justice, Mr. Isaacs is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
