Shoplifting incident ends in death of Yonkers politician’s nephew
Greenburgh NY Dec 7 2017 What started as a shoplifting incident ended with the death of a high-ranking Yonkers politician’s family member.
Jonathan Maldonado, the 21-year-old nephew of Yonkers City Council president-elect Mike Khader, was accused of stealing from Best Buy on Central Avenue in Greenburgh on Wednesday evening and swallowed an unknown type of drug before police arrived, Greenburgh police said.
The Yonkers resident lost consciousness and went into cardiac arrest while in the ambulance, police said. EMS personnel performed CPR and advanced life support, but it was unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the hospital at 6:54 p.m.
Police are holding a press conference on Friday afternoon to discuss the investigation.
“My family suffered the tragic loss of my nephew yesterday,” Khader said in a statement. “We are communicating with law enforcement and still learning the details of what took place. Please respect my family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
The incident started around 5:50 p.m. BestBuy employees and security chased Maldonado and tackled him at Webb Field, near the intersection of Harvard Drive and North Central Avenue. When police arrived, employees told them Maldonado had swallowed “several packets of an unknown substance” before he was contained, according to police.
Officers used a Taser and still struggled to control him, police said.
The three officers involved in the arrest were treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and have been released. They have been placed on modified duty.
Greenburgh Police requested the assistance of the City of Yonkers Police Department for an independent law enforcement investigation.
Also assisting with the investigation is the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and the New York State Attorney General’s Office. lohud
