Pubdate: Sun, 05 Apr 2015
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2015 The New York Times Company
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Michael Schwirtz

BRONX TEENAGER WHO FELL FROM ROOF WHILE FLEEING THE POLICE DIES

A Bronx teenager who fell off the roof of a six-story apartment
building on Thursday while fleeing police officers died of his
injuries on Saturday at St. Barnabas Hospital, the police said.

Authorities said Hakeem Kuta, 17, was with a group of other teenagers
who were smoking marijuana Thursday evening in the lobby of the
apartment building at 2685 Valentine Avenue in the Bronx. A man who
exited the building complained to four uniformed officers, who then
entered the lobby. When Mr. Kuta and several others ran to the roof,
two officers chased them.

All but Mr. Kuta and a 14-year-old were able to elude the police. With
officers shouting, "please don't move," Mr. Kuta tried to step over a
short wall at the edge of the building but stumbled, officials said.
The 14-year-old grabbed for Mr. Kuta's vest as he fell, officials
said, but he was not able to hang on.

The Police Department said that the officers appeared to have acted
appropriately. After Mr. Kuta fell, officers raced from the roof to
give first aid, officials said. Officer Maria Imburgia applied chest
compressions until paramedics arrived.

Officers made no arrests on Thursday evening, though marijuana was
found in the lobby.

Marijuana arrests have plummeted since November, when Mayor Bill de
Blasio instituted a policy making possession of 25 grams or less
punishable with a ticket, not criminal charges. People who are caught
smoking marijuana in public, though, still face arrest.

Mr. Kuta had no criminal record, officials said. A relative, Abdallah
Dopo, said the teenager had been born in Ghana and had moved to the
United States about three or four years ago with his parents and a
younger sister.

A version of this article appears in print on April 5, 2015, on page
A21 of the New York edition with the headline: Teenager Who Fell Off
Roof While Fleeing the Police Dies
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MAP posted-by: Matt