Man Dies Of Fentanyl Overdose Inside NYPD Cell; Cops Reportedly Had No Clue For 2 Hours

A 52-year-old man held in an NYPD cell following a domestic dispute incident died of a suspected fentanyl overdose last week. However, cops reportedly saw his body only two hours later.

The incident occurred at the 40th Precinct stationhouse in Mott Haven on Aug. 25, reported New York Daily News.

Malik Rahman, of Bronx, ended up in the cell following an altercation with his girlfriend on Aug. 23. He was brought to the precinct stationhouse and held with three others, who were arrested on unrelated crimes.

Though the detainees were searched once at the main desk of the stationhouse and again outside the holding cells, one of them managed to sneak in fentanyl, the report said, quoting unnamed sources.

All the four men got high on the powerful synthetic opioid but Rahman overdosed, resulting in convulsions.

However, his body reportedly was discovered only two hours later because no officer was monitoring the cells. He was found unresponsive and unconscious. The three other inmates too became ill after taking the drug, the report added.

Though they were immediately moved to Lincoln Hospital, doctors declared Rahman dead on arrival.

NYPD's Force Investigation Division is probing the incident. The medical examiner is yet to determine the cause of death. Though the NYPD sources confirmed Rahman's death, they reportedly did not share any other information.

NYPD Patrol Guide stipulates that the desk officer, usually a sergeant, should assign an officer to monitor the holding cells. The desk officer is also accountable for prisoners and has to ensure those inside the cells are guarded at all times by uniformed officers.

Rahman was a resident of a Bronx home for the formerly homeless. He was allegedly stabbed by his girlfriend in the lobby of the building during a dispute.

"It was a bad wound in his back. When the cops took him out, we thought it was to the hospital," an acquaintance of Rahman told The New York Daily News. "He was a good dude with a family, a grown son. He had problems but he was functional."