Officer Detail: Todd C. McAlister

Officers Todd C. McAlister and Nicholas J. Parisi tried to handcuff Wardel “Meech” Davis outside a house on the West Side. One of the officers admitted he punched Meech during the struggle, after which the 20-year-old stopped breathing. Meech died a short time later, and even though his death was ruled a homicide, medical records say he died from pre-existing breathing problems that were exacerbated during the struggle.

The officers were not charged and remain on the force. The attorney general said there was "no evidence" to contradict the officers' accounts because there were no witnesses and no video evidence such as body camera footage or dash camera footage. He added that there was "real need of reform" not only with the police department, but also with the Erie County Medical Examiner’s office, particularly because medical officials insisted on checking with police before making their medical rulings on the death.