NYPD Sergeant from Putnam Found Guilty of Manslaughter

A New York Police Department sergeant from Putnam County was recently found guilty of second-degree manslaughter after throwing a cooler at a fleeing suspect in August of 2023, leading to the man’s death.

Sgt. Erik Duran, 38, pleaded not guilty during his bench trial, in which there was no jury – just a judge hearing the arguments and rendering the verdict.

He was convicted Feb. 6 by Bronx Supreme Court Judge Guy Mitchell and faces up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled March 19.

Duran was also facing a criminally negligent homicide charge, which was waived.

He had until Feb. 10 to post $300,000 cash bail to remain out of custody until the sentencing.

Eric Duprey, 30, died Aug. 23, 2023, after he took off on a motorized scooter along a sidewalk in the Bronx, attempting to flee arrest after he had just sold drugs to an undercover officer.

Video shows Duran, who was a member of the NYPD Narcotics Borough Bronx Tactical Response Unit, throwing a picnic cooler at Dupey’s head in an attempt to stop him. Duprey was reportedly driving 30 miles per hour and not wearing a helmet when he was struck, which caused him to swerve and slide under a vehicle.

He later died from blunt force trauma to the head.

According to CBS News-New York, Duran testified during trial that he was trying to protect fellow officers, but the judge ruled that he had not done so properly. The defense claimed that other people would have been killed because of Duprey’s reckless driving, had Duran not stopped him.

However, prosecutors called Duran’s actions “reckless, unreasonable, and unnecessary.”

The case was prosecuted by New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ office.