Parolee drowning in the Hudson River while attempting to flee from police on a bicycle

Submitted on 07/18/2024 by: Wicked
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Accident United States 6,911 views

Troy Police have released the identity of the man who drowned in the Hudson River after being chased on his bicycle by police and video camera footage of the incident.

The victim has been identified as Melquan A. Simpson, 33, of Troy.

The incident happened on Monday night. Police were conducting surveillance in the 2nd Avenue corridor in the area of 116 Street after receiving several complaints of drug activity.

They observed Simpson on a bike wearing a balaclava ski mask and carrying a cross-body pouch, repeatedly circling the block. Officers decided to stop and interview Simpson, who was currently on parole and was wanted for absconding.

Simpson takes off and police chase him down 1st Avenue.

The first responding officer was Officer Dean Mahunik, who joined the department in 2020. The second responding officer was Officer James Hallenbeck. He has been with the department since 2022 and an officer since 2020.

Police released a 3 ½-minute-long video clip. The first portion is from the car dash cam. The video shows police chasing Simpson. They are unsuccessful at stopping him and cutting him off.

Simpson goes into a yard and ultimately rides over an embankment into the Hudson River.

Then, the video switches over to a body-worn camera. One of the officers asks the other officer to grab a rescue disc.

One of the officer yells at Simpson.

“Swim toward me dude! Swim this way!”

A voice can be heard saying. “Help me! Help!” It is unclear if it is Simpson or police.

“Throw me a rescue disc,” the officer says.

“He’s f—— drowning,” the cop then says.

After the officer receives the disc, which is attached to the end of a rope, he throws the line out to Simpson.

The cop tells Simpson “Grab onto this!” multiple times.

However, Simpson does not grab the disc.

“Son of a b–ch. He’s underwater now,” he said.

Troy Police said they were familiar with Simpson. He had a quantity of cocaine inside that pouch, police said.

Police said its investigation is continuing along with the state Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigations.

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