Judge permanently bars Lockport from disciplining officers involved in Hodge death

“There’s a thing called home rule,” Caruso said. “I don’t think the attorney general ordered the the Police Board or ordered the city not to do anything while they did their investigation.”

Daniel Barrancotta, then a six-year veteran, was the first officer who tried to subdue Hodge, with Officer Marissa Bonito, then in her second year, also taking part in what turned out to be a lengthy fight with Hodge, 39.

After Bonito radioed for backup, Lt. David Pytlik, a nine-year veteran, and Officer Patricia Burdick, in her second year, came to the scene.

According to the attorney general’s report, an autopsy concluded Hodge suffered a heart attack, or as the report put it, “sudden death associated with acute cocaine intoxication and prolonged physical altercation.”

The report also said Hodge was armed with a knife and tried to stab Barrancotta and Bonito. Hodge’s mother, who filed a wrongful death suit against the city and the officers, had called 911 to report her son was acting strangely.

Preisch had held a three-day hearing for all the officers except Bonito in September 2019, found no violations and returned the three other officers to duty. However, when Steven K. Abbott became chief two months later, he placed Barrancotta, Pytlik and Burdick on desk duty, triggering a union grievance.