A tragic incident occurred in the University Heights area of the Bronx when a motorcyclist, involved in a drug bust, crashed and lost his life, ABC News reported. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) reported that the fatal outcome resulted from Sergeant Erik Duran throwing a plastic cooler at the fleeing suspect in an attempt to stop him. As a result, Duran has been suspended without pay while an investigation takes place.
Surveillance footage, examined by the Associated Press, shows the motorcyclist, Eric Duprey, riding on a sidewalk towards a group of individuals. Just before the crash, one person, now reportedly known to be Sergeant Duran, picks up a red cooler and hurls it at the motorcyclist from close range. The impact causes the rider to lose control, leading to a collision with a tree and a metal barricade.
The New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ office, responsible for investigating police-involved deaths, is conducting an inquiry with the full cooperation of the NYPD.
“The NYPD is committed to ensuring that there will be a full, thorough, and transparent investigation of this incident to determine the facts and to take the appropriate steps forward,”
the department said in a statement.
According to a preliminary report, Duprey lost control and struck a parked vehicle after being hit by Duran’s thrown cooler. The incident was first reported by The Daily News.
The 30-year-old man was attempting to evade undercover narcotics officers during a
“buy-and-bust”
operation, a common police tactic. Duran, who joined the NYPD in 2010 and has received numerous commendations, has previous disciplinary issues, including a substantiated abuse of authority complaint from last year.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
