Body worn camera footage reviewed in Marcy Correctional Facility investigation
Dec 26, 2024
OCHESTER, N.Y. – Body worn camera footage from corrections officers at Marcy Correctional Facility is being reviewed in an investigation following the death of inmate Robert Woods.
In court documents filed Tuesday, Investigator Ryan Paparella with the Department of Corrections described what happened in the footage leading up to the death of Brooks, who was sentenced to serve 12 years in prison for an assault in Monroe County.
He was admitted to Marcy in Utica in 2017.
Paparella states that in a body camera video worn by on Sergeant Glenn Trombly, several Corrections Officers can be seen surrounding Brooks who is lying down with his hands behind his back.
Moments later Corrections Officer Nicholas Anzalone begins to strike Brooks as several other officers look on, according to Paparella.
Paparella then says Brooks can be seen sitting in an upright position and bleeding from his face when Corrections Officer Anthony Farina lifts his leg and makes contact with Brooks near the groin area.
As Brooks was then restrained at both his legs and feet, Paprella said Farina can be seen striking Brooks around three times, and Anzalone can be seen giving Brooks a sternum rub on the center of his chest.
Brooks was then put leg restraints, according to Paparella, and Corrections Officer David Kingsley can be seen with his hand around Brooks neck as he is again laying on the exam table.
Paparella says Anzalone and Kingsley can be seen forcefully pulling Brooks to an upright position at the edge of an exam table.
They can then be seen speaking with Brooks as he is in restraints before Corrections Officer Anzalone strikes him in the chest.
Paparella then said Kingsley and Anzalone grab Brooks by the collar of his shirt and shoulder area and pick him up off his feet, forcing him into the back corner of the room before being put up against a window shade as five other Correction Officers and Sgt. Michael Mashaw look on.
Paparella said as Brooks was being pushed into the wall and window shade, medical staff was outside the room and in the hallway, but it was unclear if they could see inside of the room.
Sgt. Trombly can be observed leaving and reentering the exam room multiple times.
The final time Sgt. Trombly enters the exam room, Paparella said Brooks can be seen on the exam table lying on his back being observed by medical staff, and it is uncertain if Brooks was still in any restraints.
In a camera worn by Corrections Officer Michael Along, Paparella said Brooks can be seen being carried into the exam room while handcuffed.
Monday, the Brooks family's attorney issued this statement after watching the video.
“As expected, watching the horrific and violent final moments of Robert’s life was devastating for his loved ones, and will be disturbing to anyone who views the video following its release by the Attorney General’s Office. We will not rest until we have secured justice for Robert’s memory, and safety for the prisoners at Marcy Correctional Facility.” –Liz Mazur, Attorney, Hughes Sokol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd.
Last weekend, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she's pushing for the terminations of 14 staff members who were allegedly involved in what she called an "attack" on Brooks.
Attorney General Letitia James, whose office is investigating this incident, said Brooks died Dec. 10, 2024, at the hospital following "an encounter with New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) officers at Marcy Correctional Facility."