A man died after a struggle with Department of Homeless Services peace officers and NYPD officers at a Brooklyn men’s shelter on Clarkson Avenue, and New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office has now opened a full investigation into what happened. The man lost consciousness during the encounter on December 21, 2025, and was pronounced dead after being rushed to a nearby hospital.
According to News 12 New York, the man allegedly pushed a Department of Homeless Services peace officer, which prompted officers to attempt to handcuff him. A struggle followed, and NYPD officers who responded to the scene tried to help restrain him before he lost consciousness. Newly released details from the Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation pin the start of the physical encounter at 5:05 p.m. that day, according to a statement from the Office of the New York State Attorney General, though the office cautions that preliminary details remain subject to its ongoing findings.
The shelter sits within the state-owned Kingsboro Psychiatric Center complex in East Flatbush, which includes the 143-bed Kingsboro MICA shelter for men with mental health and substance abuse needs, operated by the Salvation Army at 681 Clarkson Avenue, per records reviewed by NYC.gov. As of publication, the man’s identity and official cause of death had not been released.
Why the AG’s Office Took Over the Case
The Office of Special Investigation initially conducted a preliminary assessment of the incident before new information about the man’s death prompted it to open a full investigation, the AG’s office said. That shift is governed by New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, enacted in April 2021, which requires the Attorney General’s office to review every civilian death in which a police or peace officer’s act or omission may be involved — regardless of whether the officer was on duty or the person was armed or in custody…