KIN SAY COPS IGNORED DYING MAN'S PLEAS

RELATIVES OF A Bronx postal worker were questioning yesterday whether plainclothes cops who had just frisked him drove off and ignored his gestures for help before he collapsed and later died.

Family attorney Michael Lamonsoff said Johnny Clarke, 43, was outside his family home on E. 224th St. in Williamsbridge about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, waiting for his brother to drive him to an auto auction, when the two cops pulled up in an unmarked Ford Explorer.

A police spokesman said the sergeant and detective from Bronx Narcotics had seen what they thought was a drug transaction between two men. They lost sight of one man and went back to Clarke, who gave them permission to frisk him. They then left.

Lamonsoff said that at least two witnesses saw Clarke walking toward the officers' car and "gesturing" before he collapsed. An autopsy determined he died of an aneurism.

"It would appear from what witnesses are saying that despite his appeal for help, the officers simply drove away," Lamonsoff said.

But Deputy Chief Michael Collins said witnesses interviewed by investigators "did not indicate they saw any misconduct by the officers. An independent witness stated that she saw the victim fall and the police were not in the vicinity at the time."

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09/25/2004
Copyright Daily News, L.P. Sep 25, 2004