The NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is looking into how a Bronx man died just moments after he tried grabbing a gun from a responding cop during a brief run-in with authorities, police said.
Dwayne Pritchett’s 71-year-old father called police after his son began acting erratically and locked himself in his bedroom of their shared Kingsbridge home on Reservoir Avenue near West 195th Street just before 5 p.m. Sunday, authorities said Monday.
When police arrived and approached Pritchett’s room, the 48-year-old man opened the door and officers saw that he had crack cocaine, heroin, drug paraphernalia and a .40-caliber handgun magazine on the floor.
The officers entered the room and began to handcuff Pritchett — who sources say had a lengthy rap sheet. Pritchett was reportedly sweating profusely when he tried to pull the cop’s gun from its holster.
Pritchett passed out suddenly after officers removed him from his bedroom, police said.
EMS administered Narcan — a medication used to block the effects of opioids — and tried to save Pritchett’s life by administering CPR. He was taken to New York-Presbyterian The Allen Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Pritchett has a history of drug abuse and has been in rehab before, a police source added.
The city medical examiner will determine the cause of death.