Police Commissioner Discusses Case Of Asthmatic Girl's Death
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The city police commissioner spoke out today about the investigation into an asthmatic girl's death in Brooklyn, as the family prepares for her funeral.
Briana Ojeda, 11, suffered a severe asthma attack Friday in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.
Her mother, Carmen Ojeda, says she drove the wrong way down a one-way street while rushing her daughter to the hospital. Carmen Ojeda says a police officer pulled her over, then said he did not know CPR and failed to help Briana.
The girl later died at the hospital.
Authorities are trying to determine if the officer was actually part of the New York City Police Department, or a traffic officer, or some other uniformed person.
"We are looking at, as I say, the entire sort of universe of law enforcement in that area," said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. "Court is not far away, people may have been going to court. There are other agencies, and quite frankly, there's an effort on the part of many agencies to have their vehicles look like police cars, and even private security. So that's a two-edged sword."
Kelly says all New York City Police Department officers are trained in CPR and have radios to call for ambulances.
Carmen Ojeda said the man who pulled her over eventually escorted her to the hospital and followed behind with his lights on.
Kelly called that unusual, suggesting a police officer would take the lead.