Man dies in police custody after shoplifting arrest

A 32-year-old man died while in police custody on Friday morning in Brooklyn. He was awaiting arraignment after being arrested for shoplifting three days earlier, according to public defenders. The public defenders' statement revealed that the man had been charged with stealing about $213 worth of power tools from Home Depot. They claim he was in pain and denied medical care while in custody, even after his lawyers and other staff requested help for him. They called this lack of attention "unconscionable." The man was arrested on March 18 and was facing charges of petit larceny, possession of stolen property, and drug possession. His name has not been released, as his family has not yet been informed of his death. According to New York City law, he should have been given a desk appearance ticket and released. The law also states that individuals must be arraigned within 24 hours, barring reasonable delays. A lawsuit has been filed by The Legal Aid Society to investigate his death. Police have not yet commented on the situation.