His death occurred early in the morning on Cameron Place in the Mount Hope section of the Bronx, New York.
The fatal encounter began when Anthony Baez and his brothers accidentally[1] hit a police car with their football, at approximately 1:30 am.
[citation needed] Mr. Baez had allegedly resisted arrest and police claimed it took four officers to handcuff him and bring him to the ground.
The New York City Medical Examiner ruled that Anthony Baez' death was caused by asphyxiation due to "compression of his neck and chest", as well as acute asthma.
[citation needed] Phil Caruso, the president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, said that Anthony Baez “resisted violently when they attempted to put handcuffs on him, that's when he had the asthmatic attack."
In October 1996, Officer Francis Livoti was acquitted by former New York Supreme Court justice Judge Jerry Sheindlin.
[6] The acquittal was greeted with widespread public outcry and unrest, including the shooting of a police captain (who survived) in an act of "revenge".
[7] Federal prosecutors charged Livoti with civil rights violations, similar to cases brought against Los Angeles police officers Stacey C. Koon and Laurence Powell for the beating of Rodney King.
[10] Prosecutors countered that there was no probable cause for the arrest in the first place, it not being a crime to accidentally hit a police car with a football.