Family outraged after NYPD confirms 18-year-old daughter died in police custody
Officials said 18-year-old Saniyah Cheatham was detained and inside of the 41st Precinct in Longwood when she became unresponsive.
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A Bronx mother is speaking out after authorities said her 18-year-old daughter died on Saturday while in police custody.
Officials said 18-year-old Saniyah Cheatham was detained and inside of the 41st Precinct in Longwood when she became unresponsive.
Cheatham’s family, the United Black Caucus and other supporters rallied outside of the 41st Precinct on Tuesday and called on the NYPD and city officials to be transparent about the incident.
“Our family is broken hearted, broken down,” said Thomasina Cheatham, the mother. “We lost a part of us.”
Police first told News 12 Cheatham died by suicide inside of the precinct cell. They later said that it was a “medical emergency,” before calling the death suspicious.
According to Cheatham’s family, the teenager as on her way home from a cookout at Crotona Park when she got into a fight with her girlfriend and was arrested for disorderedly conduct.
Cheatham’s brother, Javan, said he was surprised by the incident.
“Saniyah’s not really a fighter,” Javan said. “She would rather talk to you first than hit you or start a fight with you or anything like that.”
The family said Cheatham loved writing and was an "A" student after finishing her freshman year at Bronx Community College.
“She was a very loving, sweet, smart girl, outgoing, silly,” said Cheatham’s mother.
The family said this was the first time Cheatham was ever arrested.
Now they’re demanding answers.
“I just need to know what happened,” Cheatham said. “I would like to see cameras. I want to see that my daughter hung herself. I don’t know what to believe.”
The medical examiner told News 12 there was an examination on Monday, and the cause of death is “pending further study.”
