Saniyah Cheatham: A Bronx Teen’s Tragic Death in NYPD Custody

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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Saniyah Cheatham’s Tragic Passing

The Fourth of July, a day usually filled with celebration, turned into a nightmare for the Cheatham family in 2025. Eighteen-year-old Saniyah Cheatham, a vibrant Black teen, spent the day enjoying a cookout with her loved ones at Crotona Park. Her mother, Thomasina Cheatham, recalled Saniyah being her usual happy self, sharing hugs and expressing love (blackamericaweb.com).

However, the joy quickly faded. Hours later, the family received devastating news: Saniyah had died while in the custody of the New York Police Department (blackamericaweb.com). Saniyah was arrested for alleged involvement in a fight and taken to the 41st Police Precinct in the Longwood neighborhood of the Bronx just before midnight. Anonymous NYPD officials later claimed that Saniyah allegedly hanged herself with her sweater in her cell at approximately 12:15 a.m., a mere two minutes after being placed inside (blackamericaweb.com). The NYPD stated that Emergency Medical Services were called at about 12:40 a.m., and officers attempted CPR. Saniyah Cheatham was then transferred to Lincoln Hospital, where she was pronounced dead (blackamericaweb.com).

Unanswered Questions and Community Skepticism

The official narrative of Saniyah Cheatham’s death has been met with profound skepticism, especially from her grieving mother. Thomasina Cheatham questioned how such an incident could occur within a police precinct. She asked if anyone was watching her daughter or if Saniyah called for help (blackamericaweb.com). This immediate doubt highlights a critical gap in understanding standard NYPD protocols for monitoring detainees, particularly concerning suicide prevention or regular checks within holding cells. The quick timeline of events-allegedly two minutes from cell placement to hanging-raises serious questions about the level of supervision provided.

The NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is reportedly examining the circumstances of Saniyah’s death (blackamericaweb.com). However, the specific role and authority of this division remain unclear to the public. The family is desperately hoping that surveillance cameras within the precinct will provide a clearer picture of what transpired (blackamericaweb.com). The release of such footage is often delayed due to ongoing investigations, as seen in other cases where families have demanded transparency (thecity.nyc). There is no information available on whether Saniyah had any known mental health issues or suicide risk factors, which would be crucial for understanding the incident. The lack of transparency surrounding deaths in custody is a broader issue, with local law enforcement agencies often failing to comply with the Death in Custody Reporting Act, meaning the true number of such deaths each year remains unknown (gothamist.com).

NYPD Accountability Under Scrutiny

The circumstances surrounding Saniyah Cheatham’s death are unfolding against a backdrop of increased scrutiny on NYPD accountability. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has reportedly taken a tougher stance on police misconduct compared to her predecessors, signaling a greater willingness to discipline officers more frequently and impose harsher penalties (gothamist.com). She has even imposed stricter punishments than those recommended by departmental trial judges in some cases and has eliminated policies that previously minimized consequences for unconstitutional stops (gothamist.com).

However, Commissioner Tisch’s decisions have also drawn criticism. She recently chose not to fire a Bronx officer who shot and killed a motorist during a traffic stop six years prior (amny.com). This decision overturned an administrative judge’s recommendation for dismissal and supported the officer’s claim that he believed his partner was in danger (police1.com). This particular ruling has sparked outrage from police accountability advocates (gothamist.com). The Police Benevolent Association President, Patrick Hendry, supported Tisch’s decision, stating it acknowledges the difficult choices officers face (amny.com). The family of Win Rozario, a Queens man fatally shot by police, is demanding accountability from the department and has filed a lawsuit, with Rozario’s father accusing NYPD officers of creating a crisis and then claiming victimhood (cbsnews.com). These contrasting actions by the Commissioner create a complex picture of accountability within the NYPD, impacting public trust and raising questions about how Saniyah Cheatham’s case will ultimately be handled.

Echoes of Past Tragedies: The #SayHerName Movement

The alleged details of Saniyah Cheatham’s death bear a chilling resemblance to the case of Sandra Bland, another Black woman who died in police custody. Bland was arrested during a traffic stop in Texas and, after being unable to post bail, allegedly hanged herself in her cell three days later (blackamericaweb.com). Despite the official ruling of suicide, widespread skepticism regarding the narrative persists (blackamericaweb.com).

Bland’s death brought increased awareness to the #SayHerName campaign, launched in 2014 by the African American Policy Forum (AAPF) and the Center for Intersectionality and Social Policy Studies (CISPS). This campaign aims to resist the invisibility of Black women, girls, and femmes by telling their stories of police violence (blackamericaweb.com). Saniyah Cheatham’s name now tragically joins a growing list of Black individuals who have died in police custody since Sandra Bland’s death, including Freddie Gray, Marvin Scott III, Noni Battiste-Kosoko, and Ta’Neasha Chappell (blackamericaweb.com). These parallels underscore a persistent pattern of deaths in custody that disproportionately affect Black communities, fueling demands for greater transparency and accountability from law enforcement.

The Broader Context of Police Custody Deaths

Saniyah Cheatham’s death is not an isolated incident but rather part of a disturbing pattern of individuals dying while in police custody. For instance, a man died in an NYPD precinct in April 2023 after allegedly complaining of chest pains for several hours, with officers reportedly ignoring his pleas for help (gothamist.com). His girlfriend, who was in an adjacent cell, stated that she heard his cries and tried to get the officers’ attention (gothamist.com). This incident further underscores concerns about the monitoring and care provided to detainees.

The state Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation has been tasked with reviewing all deaths caused by police officers since 2021 (thecity.nyc). However, despite these investigations, there has been little impact on outcomes, as highlighted by cases such as that of Kawaski Trawick, who suffered from mental health issues and was fatally shot by police. The officer involved was not disciplined, with the NYPD Commissioner stating the officer acted within the law (thecity.nyc). These cases, combined with the lack of compliance with the Death in Custody Reporting Act, contribute to a pervasive sense of distrust within affected communities. The Longwood section of the Bronx, where the 41st Precinct is located, has also experienced other violent incidents, including a recent shooting and slashing that left one person dead and two injured (abc7ny.com). While NYPD statistics indicate a decrease in shootings in the 41st Precinct, these broader incidents, coupled with deaths in custody, profoundly affect community-police relations and public safety perceptions.

Calls for Transparency and Justice

The Cheatham family’s heartbreak is palpable, and their demand for answers reflects a broader community yearning for transparency and justice. Saniyah’s mother is holding onto hope that the security cameras in the precinct and the medical examiner’s autopsy will provide a clear understanding of the events that led to her daughter’s death (blackamericaweb.com). Her friends and family describe Saniyah as a happy, college-bound young woman saving money to live independently, making the official narrative of suicide difficult for them to accept (blackamericaweb.com).

The calls for accountability extend beyond Saniyah’s case. Families of others who have died in police custody, such as the man in the April 2023 precinct death, have also expressed their desire for justice (gothamist.com). The family of Win Rozario is demanding the release of body camera footage and an in-person meeting with the mayor, highlighting the need for direct engagement and answers from city leadership (cbsnews.com). These collective demands underscore a deep-seated concern within the Black community regarding police practices, particularly those involving individuals in custody. The tragic death of Saniyah Cheatham serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for accountability and the urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals, especially Black women and girls, while in the care of law enforcement.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.