TL/DR –
Police Sergeant Erik Duran has been arrested and charged with manslaughter, assault, and criminally negligent homicide for an incident in August where he threw a cooler at a man fleeing narcotics officers, resulting in the man’s death. The victim, Eric Duprey, lost control of his motorbike after being hit by the cooler and struck a tree and a car before falling to the ground. Prosecutors referred to Sergeant Duran’s actions as “excessive force while on duty”, and if convicted of manslaughter, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
Sergeant Arrested for Manslaughter in Bronx Motorbike Death
A Bronx police sergeant who killed a man by throwing a cooler at him, leading to his fatal fall from a motorbike, has been arrested and charged with manslaughter, assault, and criminally negligent homicide.
Sergeant Erik Duran, 36, hit Eric Duprey, 30, while he was attempting to evade narcotics officers resulting in his suspension without pay soon after the incident.
The New York State attorney general’s office filed charges against Sergeant Duran on Tuesday, charging him with second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and first and second-degree assault. Duran pleaded not guilty in Bronx criminal court and was released on a $150,000 bail.
Prosecutors Accuse Sergeant of Excessive Force
Prosecutors argued that Sergeant Duran’s actions demonstrated “excessive force while on duty.”
The undercover narcotics officers were conducting a “buy-and-bust” operation at 192nd Street and Aqueduct Avenue when Duran allegedly struck Duprey with a cooler causing him to lose control of his motorbike, crash into a tree and a car, and then fall off his bike, according to a surveillance video.
Family and Activists Respond to Charges
Mr. Duprey’s death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner’s office. As news of the charges spread, Duprey’s family and members of the New York Black Lives Matter chapter exited the courtroom to a line of waiting officers. Demonstrators outside the courthouse celebrated the charges against Sergeant Duran.
Duprey’s family has disputed the official accounts of the altercation. His brother, Ryan Rodriguez, shared with The Times that they were “chilling and smoking” when Duprey was approached by police, leading him to attempt to evade them. Rodriguez alleges that Sergeant Duran struck Duprey with the cooler in his attempt to escape.
Potential Consequences for Sergeant Duran
Sergeant Duran could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter.
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