New York man on motorbike dies after officer throws picnic cooler at head
A man fleeing New York City police officers on a motorcycle died after a sergeant hurled a plastic picnic cooler at his head from close range, causing a violent crash, authorities said.
The sergeant, Erik Duran, was suspended without pay just hours after the death of Eric Duprey, 30, in the University Heights section of the Bronx, police said.
Surveillance video showed Duprey driving the gas-powered motorcycle on a sidewalk toward a group of people, including the sergeant, who was not in uniform.
The video showed Duran pick up a red object – the picnic cooler – and throw it. Duprey was struck hard. He lost control, then was tossed toward a tree as the motorcycle veered into the street. The bike smashed into a metal barricade before coming to rest against a parked car.
Duprey was pronounced dead at the scene minutes after the crash, which happened around 5.30pm on Wednesday.
Police said Duprey tried to flee on a friend’s motorcycle after he was caught selling drugs to an undercover police officer. The sergeant was standing on the sidewalk as part of the “buyand-bust” operation carried out by the Bronx Narcotics Unit. Police declined to say what drugs Duprey was accused of selling.
Reached by phone, Duprey’s mother, Gretchen Soto, said the police narrative was “all lies”, insisting her son was not selling drugs or trying to evade officers. She said she was on a video call with him from Puerto Rico on Wednesday when suddenly the screen went dark.
“He wasn’t fleeing. He wasn’t fleeing. He was just on the motorcycle talking to me on the video chat. And he passed by that place when all of a sudden the call cut out,” she said, in Spanish.
Soto said Duprey lived in the Bronx, worked as a delivery driver and had three children, ages three, five and nine.
“They left three fatherless babies,” Soto said. “I’m going to get justice.”
The office of the New York attorney general, Letitia James, which has jurisdiction over deaths involving police, was investigating. The New York police department said it was cooperating.
“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.
A message seeking comment was left with Duran’s union. The Daily News first reported the incident.
Duran, a 13-year veteran, joined the Bronx Narcotics Unit last September. He has been recognized by the department dozens of times for what it deems excellent and meritorious service, according to a personnel database.
Duran’s disciplinary record includes a substantiated complaint last year for abusing his authority during a stop, according to the Civilian Complaint Review Board.