An undercover New York City police sergeant has been indicted by the state attorney general's office on criminal charges in connection with the death of a drug suspect on a scooter in the Bronx in August, The Post reported.
Sergeant Eric Duran is expected to surrender to authorities Tuesday in Bronx Justice Court.
The Sergeants' Benevolent Association condemned Letitia James of New York, who prosecuted the case.
'Demonizing the Sergeant' The criminalization of Duran and his actions proves once again the old adage that if politically motivated prosecutors get too zealous, they can indict a ham sandwich if they feel like it. said SBA Chairman Vincent Valleron in a statement.
“Sergeant. Duran made a split-second decision premised solely on concern for the safety of others. Now he's at fault for a legal system that treats honest, hard-working police officers as criminals and criminals as victims. He has become the latest victim,” Vallelong added.
Eric Dupree died from “blunt force trauma to the head” sustained while fleeing a drug raid on Aqueduct Street near West 190th Street in Kingsbridge Heights, authorities said.
Duran was suspended from his job after he was accused of throwing a cooler at Duprey, 30, hitting him in the head and causing him to crash into a nearby car.
Police said Dupree sold crack cocaine to the sergeant before fleeing on his scooter.
Vallelong said Duprey, who had a pending felony assault charge at the time, drove dangerously at 40 mph on the sidewalk, endangering pedestrians and children.
Duran managed to pull Dupree away just before he collided with Dupree and other officers, the association said.
Without Duran's efforts, the drug transaction would have “caused serious injury or death to numerous individuals,” the SBA said.
After the incident, Dupree's family, who live in Pennsylvania, allegedly “punched” the sergeant in the head in retaliation for the drug dealer's death, police sources said.
Valerong now believes that had James' office “properly investigated” it would have determined that Duran's efforts were “legitimate, legitimate and lawful.”
“Instead, the Attorney General has demonstrated yet another display of recklessness at the expense of a respected NYPD sergeant who did the right thing,” he said in a statement.
The association also warns other board members because “any action you take could result in Albany's political ideologues ruining your career in order to advance their own.” I warned you to be careful.
He also urged members to “pack” the Bronx Judicial Hall on Tuesday to show support for Duran.
The AG's office did not respond to requests for comment.
