Sheldon Ennis, a former convict who had recently been released from incarceration, tragically passed away following an encounter with NYPD police officers in Manhattan’s Riverside Park. Ennis, who was trying to turn over a new leaf after serving time in prison, was pinned down by the officers prior to suffering what appeared to be a cardiac arrest. His astonished associates at work relayed these details to the Daily News. NYPD’s Force Investigation Division has begun its standard review of incidents leading to deaths in police custody, using body cam footage from the officers involved.
As the review of the circumstances surrounding Ennis’ death on June 26 embarks, the officers implicated are still on duty and haven’t faced any disciplinary action. Ennis, aged 54, had previously served a long prison sentence for operating a notorious drug cartel in Manhattan during the 1990s. However, following his release in November 2023, he was determined to create a respectable life for himself. His new role as a residents assistant at the Skyline Hotel in Hell’s Kitchen was part of this transformation.
One of Ennis’ coworkers described his journey, remarking he had served over 25 years in prison and had since managed to regain control of his life. The colleague shared that Ennis died shortly after finishing a shift at his workplace. Further information acquired indicates that Ennis was confronted by the police officers – attendees of a crime reduction program – while he was drinking beer from a paper bag in the park near W. 137th St. and Riverside Drive around 10:05 p.m. Precisely, his encounter with the law enforcement officers happened not far from where he was residing post his prison stint.
When approached by the officers, they demanded to see Sheldon Ennis’ identification, which he didn’t have with him at the time. Despite Ennis assuring them that he lived nearby and volunteering to get his ID or have a friend deliver it to them, the police declined his offer, as per a source privy to the police body cam footage of the encounter. When informed he would be detained for identity verification at the stationhouse, Ennis expressed reluctance, fearing the loss of a $2,000 check he was carrying.
Ennis then made an attempt to evade the police, suggesting one of the officers contact their supervisor before attempting to flee, inadvertently knocking into one of the officers. He was pursued and brought down by one of the officers, with significant force landing on his chest, as per the police source. During this encounter, Ennis banged his head and was bleeding, reporting difficulty breathing as he laid on the ground.
Following their takedown of Ennis, the officers called an ambulance for both Ennis and the officer involved in the incident. This officer, who was relatively new to the force with approximately a year of experience, had sustained an arm injury during the apprehension. Ennis was then rushed to Mount Sinai Morningside by medics, where he subsequently passed away due to what officials identified as a cardiac episode.
The city Medical Examiner’s Office is actively working to ascertain the exact cause of Sheldon Ennis’ death. A senior NYPD official, having also reviewed the body cam footage, categorized the officers’ actions as ‘not overly aggressive’ in their interaction with Ennis. The official further elaborated that the officers made their demands for identification, and their reasons for approaching him clear.
The following day, Ennis’ absence from work was greatly felt. His coworkers grew anxious when he didn’t show up at the Skyline Hotel. One coworker expressed their collective shock and sadness over Ennis’ sudden absence. His unexpected no-show behavior led to worry and relentless calling, but without reply. His colleagues unanimously agreed that this was uncharacteristic of Ennis.
His personality and demeanor at work were fondly remembered by colleagues. One coworker described him as ‘the sweetest guy,’ emphasizing his positive relationships with the staff. They agreed that his absence would indeed be felt. However, attempts to reach Ennis’ kin have yet to be successful.
Ennis’ past wasn’t without its dark moments. He had a total of eight arrests on his record, including a charge of attempted murder. The final resolution of this specific charge remains unclear, but he served close to 26 years primarily on drug-related charges. His parole was set to end in 2035.
In 2008, a ruling by the state Court of Appeals upheld his conviction, revealing his criminal activities. Ennis, along with his brother and another accomplice, supervised a drug trade dubbed the ‘Dog Pound.’ This operation was based in a Midtown hotel, and those who dared infringe their territory with rival drug sales faced violent consequences. Ennis and his cohorts were implicated in several violent incidents, firing at competing drug dealers and weren’t averse to using both guns and knives. Documented evidence also indicated violent confrontations with rival drug dealers during that period, proving Ennis’ involvement.
During his final encounter with the police officers in the park, Ennis had a pocketknife in his possession, although he did not threaten the police officers with it. Interestingly enough, the officer who tackled Ennis had never had a civilian complaint lodged against him. His partner, an officer with nine years of service, however, had faced investigations previously, twice for authority abuse and once for allegations of physical force against a woman. The Civilian Complaint Review Board substantiated only one of the authority abuse complaints, where the officer was accused of forcibly moving someone to a hospital.
Lastly, The New York State Attorney General’s office has taken cognizance of Ennis’ death and has begun a ‘preliminary assessment.’ The spokesman of the agency confirmed this information, further implying that a more detailed investigation into the matter might be forthcoming.
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