Husband in custody, 2 officers suspended following woman's death

<p><span style="color:#000000">Tonie Wells, 22, was found unconscious and unresponsive just before 10 a.m. Wednesday in the basement of the Sterling Place home she shared with her husband and toddler.</span></p>

News 12 Staff

Dec 27, 2017, 10:37 PM

Updated 2,323 days ago

Share:

A 29-year-old man was in police custody Thursday and two officers were suspended following the death of a woman in Crown Heights.
Tonie Wells, 22, was found unconscious and unresponsive just before 10 a.m. Wednesday in the basement of the Sterling Place home she shared with her husband and toddler.
Police said Wells suffered body trauma, specifically bruising on her neck.
Police were questioning Wells' husband Barry in connection with her death, but an arrest had not been made. Police said charges would be filed against the suspect once the official cause of death is determined by the medical examiner.
Two NYPD officers are under investigation for how they handled the initial call. Reports suggest that the officers who responded to the scene for a wellness check, after neighbors called 911, waited inside their vehicle instead of entering the home to investigate.
NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said there are times when officers don't live up to department standards, and when that happens, discipline will be handed out if needed.
The handling of the investigation has prompted Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams to call for officers to be more diligent on the job. He is also asking for reform when it comes to potential domestic violence cases.


More from News 12