SHOULD THIS COP BE PROSECUTED FOR THE DEATH OF A FLEEING DOPE DEALER?

Suspended undercover NYPD cop Erik Duran 'will be exonerated' for cooler killing of Eric Duprey, lawyer claims

Eric Duprey, 30, 'sold drugs' to the New York City Police Department Sergeant on Aqueduct Avenue, the Bronx on Wednesday before he tried to flee on a scooter. Duran threw a cooler, filled with soda cans, at him - which he had snatched from a bystander 

 

By Kamal Sultan and Aneeta Bhole

 

Daily Mail

Aug 27, 2023

 

Undercover police officer Erik Duran who was suspended over the death of Eric Duprey (pictured) who he allegedly threw a cooler at 'will be exonerated of any misconduct and wrongdoing,' his lawyer claimed 

 

Undercover police officer Erik Duran who was suspended over the death of a man he allegedly threw a cooler at 'will be exonerated of any misconduct and wrongdoing,' his lawyer claimed.

Eric Duprey, 30, 'sold drugs' to the New York City Police Department Sergeant on Aqueduct Avenue, in the Bronx on Wednesday afternoon before he tried to flee on a scooter. 

Duran threw a cooler, filled with soda cans, at him - which he had snatched from a bystander who was on the street with his family. 

It caused the suspect to lose control of his scooter and strike a parked Jeep. The officer has been suspended while the matter is investigated.

The death was ruled a homicide and a source said charges are expected to be brought by a grand jury against Duran but his lawyer is adamant he will be cleared.

Duran's attorney Andrew Quinn said there is more to the incident than a 10-second clip of the incident can reveal.

'What is indisputably clear is that the deceased, who was intent on evading arrest for selling drugs to an undercover officer, was speeding on a motorbike in an incredibly dangerous manner down a crowded sidewalk, jeopardizing the life and safety of everyone there,' he told The New York Post. 

'Once a full and complete investigation is conducted, we are fully confident that Sgt. Duran will be exonerated of any misconduct or wrongdoing.'

The officer was working undercover as part of the Bronx Narcotics Division and conducting a buy-and-bust operation, when he allegedly threw the cooler at Duprey.

Duprey fell to the ground and died from 'blunt force injuries' and was pronounced dead at the scene. Sergeant Duran was suspended early Thursday morning.

CCTV footage shows the moment that the cooler hit the man on the Bronx street.

An image obtained by DailyMail.com showed the red cooler with a white handle that was hurled at Duprey during the drug bust.

The NYPD said in a statement in the wake of the incident: 'Early today, New York City Police Department Sergeant Erik Duran was suspended from duty without pay following a fatal incident in the Bronx on Wednesday afternoon involving a man attempting to flee from the police on a motorcycle.

 

Duprey was attempting to get away when he crashed to the ground just after 5.20pm on Wednesday - now NYPD Sergeant Duran has been suspended while cops investigate

The red cooler can be seen lying on the ground on the sidewalk

 

'The New York State Attorney General's Office is leading the investigation into this incident with the assistance of the New York City Police Department's Force Investigation Division. 

'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.' 

A 42-year-old man, whose cooler was used during the ordeal, told NYDailyNews: '[Eric] was on the bike, moving north when the cops started chasing him. 

'Then he took a U-turn and was riding on the sidewalk. The cop then took my cooler, which was filled with soda cans, water bottles, and hit him.'

Witnesses described how there was a family party occurring close by - and the children were left 'almost paralyzed by what they saw.'

They continued: 'I think he died the moment he fell on the ground, because there was no movement. The cops tried doing CPR but that did not do any good.' 

Jose Colon, the dead man's step-dad, slammed police for their actions.

He said: 'Why couldn't the cop use any piece of equipment which was authorized for him to use? Why did he hit him with a cooler? What happened to the cop's Taser?'

Duprey's wife Orlyanis Velez added: 'We were given no information. I am scared as (police) are acting as if nothing happened.'

 

The fatal impact from the cooler - that was filled with soda cans - caused the suspect to lose control of his scooter and strike a parked Jeep.

 

Erika Duprey Soto, his sister, said: 'It's crazy that the cop threw a cooler at him. He used to work as a delivery man for Uber, Doordash. He used the same scooter for deliveries that he was riding yesterday when he was attacked.

'He's gone. I loved my brother to death.'  

According to public records, officer Duran joined the force in 2010 and has faced 17 accusations of wrongdoing over his career.

Only one, for an unnecessary stop, was substantiated. Duran also made 197 arrests during his role at the NYPD. He has been suspended without pay. 

Duran was reprimanded by his colleagues. According to the New York Daily News, a police official said: 'The use of force here is not consistent with our guidelines. 

'We don't train officers to pick up something and throw it at a suspect.' 

Duprey had two previous arrests which included an open felony assault case in the Bronx dating back to June 2022.

He allegedly threw a bottle of soda through the window of someone's car, according to a source.