Prisoner Shot Inside Mount Vernon Police Van: Investigation Details

Bizarre Shooting Incident

• 🚨 An investigation is underway into a shooting that occurred inside a police transport van in Mount Vernon.
• 🎯 A 32-year-old man, Lewis Sodto, was shot and hospitalized with a gunshot wound to his lower leg.
• ❓ Investigators are working to determine how a 22 caliber gun ended up in the van and who fired it.

Police Response and Departmental Issues

• ⚠️ Two Mount Vernon police officers have been placed on modified duty as the investigation proceeds.
• 🔍 The Mount Vernon Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney's Office are conducting the investigation.
• 💬 Community activists suggest the incident may stem from deeper issues within the department, including the departure of experienced officers and the current training of rookies.

Prisoner Search Policies

• ⚖️ The incident occurred after Mount Vernon modified its search policy following a DOJ report on excessive strip searches.
• 📌 New protocols include the use of magnetometers to screen prisoners.
• 🏥 The injured prisoner's condition is not considered life-threatening, and he remains hospitalized.
• ⚖️ Lewis Sodto is facing additional charges related to the incident.