A serious accident involving a scooter and a Port Authority police car at the intersection of Lemoine Ave and Bruce Reynolds Blvd in Ft Lee, N.J. on Monday morning Oct. 17, 2022.
© Tariq Zehawi/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
(New York, NY) – In a case that’s generated controversy, a New York City cop has been indicted for multiple charges — including manslaughter — following the death of a man during a drug bust. The incident in question took place in August 2023, when the NYPD was conducting what it calls a “buy-and-bust” operation in the Bronx.
On that day, 30-year-old Eric Duprey died after crashing while riding a motorcycle. Cops say Duprey had just sold drugs to an undercover officer when he tried to flee by using his friend’s gas-powered motorcycle. He allegedly took off riding the bike on the sidewalk, which is when Sergeant Erik Duran allegedly threw a cooler at Duprey, causing him to crash. Duran has been on suspension since the crash. Now, Attorney General Leticia James has indicted Duran for manslaughter and other charges. The claim is that he used excessive force by throwing the cooler, because it was heavy, and he needed to use two hands to throw it.
But surveillance video obtained by the Associated Press shows Duprey riding the motorcycle toward a group of people, including Duran, who was not in uniform. Duprey’s mother also disputes that her son was selling drugs that day, telling Fox 5 New York (in Spanish): “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. They left three fatherless babies. I’m going to get justice.”
Close to 100 NYPD officers lined the hallways of the courthouse when Duran was charged and bail was set at $150,000.
