NYPD officer accused of causing fatal crash in Kingsbridge Heights returns to court
Sergeant Sam Duran was indicted in January by New York Attorney General Letitia James for the death of 30-year-old Eric Duprey.
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An NYPD sergeant who hurled a plastic cooler at a man fleeing officers on a motorcycle, causing a crash that killed the rider was in court Tuesday for the first time since he was indicted on several charges, including manslaughter.
Sgt. Sam Duran was indicted in January by New York Attorney General Letitia James for the death of 30-year-old Eric Duprey. Police say Duprey died during an alleged drug bust gone wrong in Kingsbridge Heights last August.
Officers say Duprey was fleeing the scene of an undercover drug operation on a motorcycle when Duran threw a cooler at him. Surveillance cameras captured the entire incident, including the moments when the victim crashed his scooter into a parked car, hit his head and died on the scene.
Medical examiners say the impact of the crash killed Duprey. Duran pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and assault charges at his arraignment in January.
The last time Duran was in court, his lawyer claimed the cooler was the only way he could stop Duprey from fleeing the scene.
Social advocates on Tuesday called Duran’s conviction.
"This case is to hold the police accountable," said Black Lives Matter Greater New York co-founder Chivona Newsome. "Letitia James has filed the appropriate charges. We need to restore justice. We need to bring peace to Eric's three children. We need his mother to be able to rest at night and this lies in the hands of the Bronx people."
Duran’s claims his actions were justifiable. News 12 was told the attorney general is awaiting more evidence.
Duran is due back in court on July 30.
