The Newburgh police chief is defending his officers? actions in the case of a man who died in July while in police custody.

Newburgh Police Chief Eric Paolilli is standing by what he calls the "necessary" force arresting officers used while struggling with Nathaniel Cobbs. The 25-year-old Newburgh man, who tests showed was high on PCP and cocaine, died hours after the altercation. The official autopsy blamed his death on drugs and an enlarged heart.

However, Cobbs? family issued results of a second, independent autopsy. Rockland's medical examiner, acting in a private capacity, performed the second autopsy. She concluded that Cobbs' death was caused by exsanguination, which means he bled to death. Michael Sussman, attorney for Cobbs' family, says Cobbs was killed by excessive police force and is calling for prosecution.

Chief Paolilli has seen both autopsy reports. He says they both showed high levels of drugs in Cobbs' system and an enlarged heart. Paolilli says the dog bites and Taser gun burns are strong evidence of a struggle with cops.

Dr. Louis Roh did the first autopsy and disagrees with the conclusion that Cobbs bled to death. Roh says Cobbs died in the hospital and if he was losing that much blood, the staff would have done something about it.

Related Information Private autopsy claims cops contributed to man's death