Police Department Cleared Of Any Criminal Wrongdoing In Jail Cell Death Of Mother Of 8

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A police department in Westchester County has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in the jail death of a mother of eight, said New York's top prosecutor.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued the findings Thursday in the July 2015 death of 42-year-old Raynette Turner in Mount Vernon.

Relatives had disputed an autopsy that said Turner died from an enlarged heart and chronic cocaine and morphine use. However, authorities said the death was due to natural causes, with drug use as a contributing factor.

"Our investigation did uncover some areas of reals problems, areas in need of reform," Schneiderman told WCBS 880's Kelly Waldron.

Schneiderman is now proposing several changes when it comes to the processing supervision and arraignment of those who are arrested.

"There is really no good reason why someone arrested for shoplifting has to wait 48 hours in jail before being arraigned," he said.

He'd like to start with the availability of arraignment by video to speed up the process.

Schneiderman undertook the investigation after Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave the attorney general authority in cases involving fatal police encounters. Cuomo said he hoped to do away with perceived conflicts of interest between local district attorneys and police.

The seven-month investigation also suggests that there should be more frequent cell checks, 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported.

Among those who asked Cuomo to empower the attorney general was the mother of Eric Garner, who died after a police chokehold. No officers were indicted in his death.

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