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Man who died in NYPD custody asked to go to hospital hours before, officials and family say
By
Charles Lane
and
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Sep 4, 2025
Modified Sep 5, 2025
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Courtesy of Candice Nieves
By
Charles Lane
and
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Sep 4, 2025
Modified Sep 5, 2025
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A Brooklyn man who died in NYPD custody at the Kings County courthouse Friday was visibly ill and had asked to go to the hospital hours earlier but never made it, according to his lawyer, sister and law enforcement officials.
Christopher Nieves, 46, was arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing food from a Whole Foods in Williamsburg. He told police he was feeling sick, and the NYPD transported him to the hospital the same day.
By 5 a.m. Friday, Nieves had been discharged and was taken by police to Brooklyn Criminal Court, where he awaited arraignment for roughly 14 hours. According to his lawyer and police, Nieves, whose family said he had been suffering from a blood infection, complained of foot pain and asked to return to the hospital.
Around 5 p.m. Friday, his attorney Claire Thomas said, he appeared ill and had passed out multiple times in the courtroom. She said he was too unwell to be arraigned, and also pushed for him to be hospitalized, but to no avail.
“ His skin was yellow, I noticed that right away,” said Thomas, an attorney at the nonprofit Legal Aid Society. “He had a foot bandaged up. He was pretty incoherent. From the moment I saw him, I knew that something was very wrong.”
Nieves remained at the courthouse and died after collapsing in a holding cell around 10 p.m., officials said. He is one of two men who died in NYPD custody within three days last week.
Nieves’ death comes as the Adams administration faces a mounting death toll of people in city custody. Deaths in custody at Rikers Island have already doubled compared to last year, with 12 people dying at or shortly after being released from the jail complex this year. Nieves is one of at least five people to die in NYPD custody this year.
When his death was first publicized, police did not say he had been hospitalized. They also said he’d been arrested on Friday, not Thursday.
Police now say Nieves complained about foot pain and asked to go to the hospital while at court, though they are still investigating the exact timeline of events.
The city's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is also looking into Nieves’ death. And authorities are investigating the death of a second man they said was found hanged in a Manhattan precinct holding cell Friday night and was pronounced dead Sunday. Medical examiners have ruled his death a suicide.
Candice Nieves said her brother had been hospitalized for a blood infection six weeks prior to his arrest, but it’s unclear if that is related to his death.
“None of these signs were seen. Like, nobody put things together, nobody cares,” Candice Nieves said. “To them it's just like, ‘Oh, you went to the hospital, move it along. Get back into the jail cell. You're gonna sit here and die like a dog.’”
Nieves had a reputation for being disruptive and allegedly stealing things like bicycles and packages at the Greenpoint building where he had lived for many years, according to upstairs neighbor Pawel Ignatowicz.
Candice Nieves said her brother’s behavior stemmed from a troubled life affected by drug addiction and run-ins with law enforcement.
“But deep down, if you knew him, he was a really good human being with a good heart, a loving son, a loving uncle and brother,” she said.
She said the fact that he was arrested for allegedly shoplifting at a grocery store suggested he was desperate to meet his basic needs.
Law enforcement officials said Nieves stole $170 worth of meat and seafood the day he was arrested. He was taken into custody Thursday because he had open warrants for previous thefts and was not eligible for a desk appearance ticket.
Candice Nieves said she still has questions about how her brother died and wishes she could have been with him during his last moments.
“The thought of him passing away on a cold floor … the picture in my mind of that, that breaks me,” she said. “I don’t care who you are, no one deserves to die like that. The system failed him and they should be held accountable.”
This story has been updated to clarify Nieves' attorney pushed for him to receive medical care.
Tagged
brooklyn
new york city
public safety
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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