King Crittenden Dies After Prison Restraint: No Charges Filed

ATTICA, NY – King Crittenden, 53, is dead after a violent struggle with New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) correction officers (COs) at Wyoming Correctional Facility (WCF) in Attica, Wyoming County. The Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) released its report today, February 3, 2026, concluding that despite the harrowing circumstances, criminal charges against the involved officers are not warranted.

The incident unfolded on January 14, 2024, when Crittenden suffered a seizure in his dormitory unit. While still breathing, he quickly became unresponsive, prompting a frantic call for help from a fellow incarcerated individual. WCF medical personnel, COs, and a sergeant rushed to the scene and administered initial care, including Narcan. Crittenden was moved to a gurney and loaded into the WCF ambulance for transport to the facility’s emergency room.

The situation escalated en route to the ER. After a third dose of Narcan, Crittenden regained consciousness but became combative. Upon arrival, eight COs and a sergeant moved to restrain him, utilizing body holds, handcuffs, and a spit hood. For ten minutes, a struggle ensued, with Crittenden continuing to fight against the restraints. Then, he went limp, losing all vital signs. Despite immediate life-saving efforts from both WCF and emergency medical personnel, Crittenden was pronounced dead at 12:18 p.m.

OSI’s investigation, a deep dive into WCF medical records, CO logs, staff reports, and interviews with medical staff and incarcerated individuals, focused on whether the officers’ actions constituted criminal negligence. New York law demands proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers caused death through a gross deviation from a reasonable standard of care, failing to recognize a substantial and unjustifiable risk. Investigators determined that Crittenden presented a clear medical emergency, a danger to himself and others, necessitating restraint to facilitate care. There was no evidence of excessive force, blows, or asphyxiation, according to officer statements. They claim all restraint ceased the moment Crittenden became unresponsive, and life-saving measures were immediately initiated.

Ultimately, the OSI found the evidence insufficient to prove criminal wrongdoing. “In this case, the evidence does not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers’ conduct was a gross deviation from the standard that would have been observed by a reasonable person in the same circumstances,” the report states. The decision, while legally justified, is sure to ignite further debate about conditions inside New York’s correctional facilities and the use of force on vulnerable inmates.

The OSI continues to push for legislative changes. They are recommending that all DOCCS COs be equipped with body-worn cameras – a measure not in place at the time of Crittenden’s death. While WCF lacked stationary video cameras at the time, COs are now equipped with body-worn cameras. Recent legislation requiring installation of fixed cameras throughout DOCCS facilities has also been signed into law, but the delay in implementation raises questions about transparency and accountability within the system.