By Ben Fractenberg and Patrick Hedlund
INWOOD — A plainclothes NYPD detective shot a man in the stomach outside an apartment building on Post Avenue Tuesday after the the victim put the cop in a choke hold during a drug arrest, authorities said.
The incident unfolded about 5 p.m. after the narcotics officer spotted another man dealing drugs outside 26 Post Ave., near Academy Street, and identified himself as a cop before moving in to make an arrest, the NYPD said.
That's when the 43-year-old victim came up from behind the detective and put him in a choke hold, forcing the plainclothes cop to fire a round into his stomach after a struggle with the two men, police said.
The victim, identified by his family as John Collado, Sr., was taken to Harlem Hospital were he was initially listed in stable condition, police said. Collado was later pronounced dead at approximately 2:30 a.m., according to reports.
The man's son said his father jumped in after recognizing the suspected drug dealer as someone from the neighborhood, but didn't realize an arrest was taking place because the cop was wearing street clothes.
"My dad's not a moron," said John Collado, Jr., 21. "If he would have identified himself as a cop, my dad would have stopped."
The 23-year-old alleged drug dealer fled the scene but was later apprehended, officials said. He was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital in stable condition with a minor laceration to his head.
The detective suffered neck and shoulder trauma and was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital, police added.
Charges are currently pending, police added.