Former NYPD Sergeant Erik Duran, convicted of second-degree manslaughter for throwing a picnic cooler at a fleeing suspect who later died, was freed on bail while he appeals his sentence. A state appellate court judge ruled Friday that Duran could be released after securing $300,000 cash or bond and surrendering his passport to his lawyers.
Key Takeaways
A former New York City police sergeant convicted of manslaughter was freed on bail while he appeals his sentence. Erik Duran, who tossed a picnic cooler at a fleeing suspect causing fatal injuries, was released after securing $300,000 bail.
- Former NYPD Sergeant Erik Duran granted bail during appeal
- Duran sentenced to three to nine years for manslaughter in the death of Eric Duprey
- Judge rules Duran is not a flight risk nor a danger to the community
- New York Islanders' fundraiser for Duran's legal defense sparks controversy
Duran had been sentenced to three to nine years in prison by a lower-court judge for the 2023 death of Eric Duprey. The incident occurred during a narcotics policing operation in the Bronx, where Duran was part of a unit conducting a 'buy-and-bust' operation. According to prosecutors, Duprey sold drugs to an undercover officer and attempted to flee on a motorized scooter.
Duran testified that he threw the cooler full of ice and drinks at Duprey to protect other officers. The container struck Duprey, causing him to lose control of his scooter and crash into a tree. Duprey sustained fatal head injuries and died almost instantly. Duran's defense argued that the incident was a result of a 'series of bad choices' made by Duprey.
The decision to grant bail has sparked controversy, with activists protesting against it while pro-police forces support Duran. The New York Islanders also faced criticism for promoting Duran's legal defense fund during their final game of the season. Duprey's family expressed deep disappointment and pain over the Islanders' actions.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.