NEW YORK (PIX11) — A 51-year-old man who was arrested for allegedly stealing incense at a Manhattan CVS died while in police custody on Sunday, officials said.
Vincent Thoms suffered a medical emergency while he was waiting to be arraigned on shoplifting charges in Manhattan Criminal Court at 100 Centre St., according to police and court records.
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Medics rushed Thoms, a Manhattan native, to the hospital at around 6:45 p.m., but he could not be saved, according to the NYPD.
“We are heartbroken to learn of the death of Vincent Thoms, who died yesterday in NYPD custody while waiting to be arraigned on allegations he stole incense from a CVS — a low-level shoplifting charge. He spent his final moments languishing in a jail cell,” the Legal Aid Society said in a statement.
Thoms was charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for allegedly shoplifting at a Manhattan CVS on Sunday, according to court records.
The cause of death is unknown. The NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is handling the case.
Officials said nine people died in police custody last year. These deaths are being probed by the New York City Department of Investigation.
Mira Wassef is an award-winning reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined the PIX11 News digital team in 2022. See more of her work here.
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