Pubdate: Sun, 29 Sep 2002
Source: Newsday (NY)
Copyright: 2002 Newsday Inc.
Contact:  http://www.newsday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/308
Author: Rocco Parascandola

COP'S SON DIES WEEK AFTER DRUG ARREST

The son of a veteran police officer died in a Brooklyn hospital Friday of 
an apparent cocaine overdose, a week after he collapsed while in police 
custody, police said yesterday.

Brendan Ancona, 23, was rushed to Long Island College Hospital the morning 
of Sept. 21 after he had a massive seizure while in Brooklyn Central 
Booking, police said.

Ancona had been taken into custody the night of Sept. 20 at Avenue P and 
Hendrickson Street in Marine Park. Police said narcotics officers saw 
Ancona get into a car and sell a small amount of marijuana to another man.

The buyer was arrested, police said, and officers .arrested Ancona after a 
brief foot chase.

Charged with misdemeanor sale and misdemeanor possession of marijuana, 
Ancona was taken to central booking, where he was medically cleared by EMS 
personnel, as is standard policy, and placed in a cell.

He had a seizure a short time later and lost consciousness, police said.

EMS rushed him to the hospital, where he was listed in critical condition 
until his death at 12:08 p.m. Friday.

Police said a medical examiner will determine the cause of death, but 
police sources said Ancona apparently suffered a cocaine overdose that led 
to organ failure.

Police said it was not clear when Ancona might have taken cocaine.

Ancona lived less than two blocks from where he was arrested. His mother, 
Officer Patricia Ancona, is an 18-year veteran assigned to the 61st 
Precinct in Brooklyn.

A friend said he knew Ancona had sold marijuana in the past. "He would 
party, but he wasn't a coke head," said the friend, who asked that his name 
not be printed. "Honestly, he wasn't a bad kid. He would go out of his way 
to help you."

He also said Ancona had worked different jobs, including a recent stint for 
a Brooklyn mortgage brokerage.
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