NEW YORK (AP) — A New York Metropolis police sergeant who hurled a plastic cooler at a person fleeing officers on a motorbike, inflicting a crash that killed the rider, was charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent murder and assault.
Erik Duran pleaded not responsible at his arraignment Tuesday within the Bronx and made bail, which was set at $150,000. Dozens of law enforcement officials got here to courtroom in his assist.
Duran, 37, was suspended shortly after the incident and later positioned on modified obligation.
The indictment was introduced by state Lawyer Normal Letitia James’ workplace, which investigates all deaths by the hands of law enforcement officials.
Messages in search of remark have been left with Duran’s union and his protection legal professional.
Motorcyclist Eric Duprey, 30, was pronounced useless inside minutes of being struck on a Bronx sidewalk final August. Police mentioned Duprey had tried to flee on a good friend’s bike after he was caught promoting medicine to an undercover police officer.
Duran had been standing on the sidewalk as a part of the “buy-and-bust” operation carried out by the Bronx Narcotics Unit.
Surveillance video confirmed Duprey driving the bike on a sidewalk towards a bunch of individuals, together with the sergeant, who was not in uniform. As he approached, the video reveals Duran choose up the pink picnic cooler and throw it. Duprey is struck, loses management, and is tossed towards a tree because the bike veers into the road. The bike smashes right into a steel barricade earlier than coming to relaxation in opposition to a parked automotive.
Duprey had three younger youngsters and labored as a supply driver.
Duran, a 13-year veteran of the division, joined the Bronx Narcotics Unit in 2022. He has been acknowledged by the division dozens of instances for what it deems glorious and meritorious police service, in response to a police personnel database.
Duran’s disciplinary file features a substantiated grievance in 2022 for abusing his authority throughout a cease, in response to the town’s Civilian Criticism Evaluation Board.
Duran’s subsequent courtroom date is April 18.
