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Emotionally Disturbed Person Dies Shortly After Being Cuffed by Police: NYPD

Cops say a short time after Dwayne Pritchett, 48, was put into handcuffs he lost consciousness and became unresponsive

What to Know

  • Police say an emotionally disturbed person was handcuffed and died at an area hospital a short time later after he lost consciousness
  • Officers say they responded to a residence in the Bronx after the man's father said he was inside his room refusing to leave
  • Authorities say Dwayne Pritchett, 48, tried to take one of the officer’s gun out of its holster before he became unresponsive

An emotionally disturbed person died Sunday shortly after he was cuffed during a brief altercation with police and losing consciousness, officials say.

Police said they went to a third-floor apartment on Reservoir Avenue in the Bronx after a 71-year-old man told officers his 48-year-old son was inside his bedroom refusing to come out. As cops made their way to the bedroom door, the man, identified as Dwayne Pritchett, quickly opened the door.

Police found a handgun magazine on the floor and put Pritchett in handcuffs, the NYPD said. Pritchett then allegedly tried to take one of the officer’s gun out of its holster, but police say they quickly cuffed him and took him out of the room.

A short time later, police said Pritchett lost consciousness and became unresponsive. Paramedics were already on scene and rushed him to New York Presbyterian-The Allen Hospital, where he pronounced dead.

It wasn't immediately clear how Pritchett died, but a medical examiner will determine his cause of death.

His family say they don't understand what happened. 

"They haven't really contact us -- just, 'he's deceased and he went unconscious,'" said Anthony Stevens. 

Childhood friend Keith Williams says Pritchett was healthy. 

Now Pritchett's son, who's turning 3 years old this week, will face a birthday without his father. His child's mother, Alotisia Stevens, says she doesn't know of any drug, violence or psychiatric history with Pritchett. 

"I'm devastated because they also said he had a mental issue," said Alotisia Stevens. "He doesn't have a mental issue, he doesn't take any mental meds, so I don't understand."

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