Brooklyn mom searches for answers in death of daughter days before Christmas

A Brooklyn mom is searching for answers in the death of her daughter just days before Christmas and is blaming state police.

News 12 Staff

Jan 5, 2021, 1:11 AM

Updated 1,435 days ago

Share:

A Brooklyn mom is searching for answers in the death of her daughter just days before Christmas and is blaming state police. 
Instead of celebrating the holidays, Michelle Surrency says she is trying to bury her 11-year-old daughter. 
Police tell News 12 a trooper tried pulling over 39-year-old Tristan Goods on Dec. 22 in his SUV for speeding near Kingston. Police say Goods drove off, causing a pursuit that ended when his car and a trooper’s car collided--causing the vehicle to overturn. 
Police say 11-year-old Monica Goods and her 12-year-old sister were in the car. State police say Monica wasn’t wearing a seat belt and died. However, her mother says the surviving 12-year-old daughter, Tristina, tells a different story. 
She claims pepper spray was used during the traffic stop and that the SUV was rammed into a guardrail, causing the crash.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an order in June that would require body cameras for state troopers, but civil rights activist the Rev. Kevin McCall says it doesn’t go into effect until April and that needs to be expedited.
The Brownsville resident is getting the New York state attorney general involved along with Brooklyn attorney Sanford Rubinstein. The group says Monday’s meeting with the attorney general was productive, lasting an hour and a half.
Rubinstein tells News 12 the Ulster County district attorney is looking into the incident as well. 
They’re hoping for any witnesses or potential video footage that could help in the investigation. 
The family is raising money to pay for the young girl’s burial.