Cops: Man ingests suspected drugs, dies

A Uniondale man pursued by Nassau County police died early Sunday after officers saw him spit out what appeared to be crack or cocaine, authorities said.

Police said they witnessed Benjamin Jackson, 43, involved in a possible drug deal and followed him. At about 2:10 a.m., plainclothes officers approached Jackson as he hid in bushes at a home on Planders Avenue, police said.

The officers heard a crunching sound and saw Jackson spit out what looked like crack or cocaine, police said. The officers handcuffed Jackson, police said, and, realizing he may have ingested narcotics, called an ambulance.

Police said there was no use of force or tussle between the officers and Jackson.

Before the ambulance arrived, Jackson went into cardiac arrest, police said. Officers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and regained a pulse, police said. Jackson, who lived on Planders Avenue, was taken to Nassau University Medical Center, where he again went into cardiac arrest, police said. He was pronounced dead at 3:42 a.m., police said.

Police said Jackson's family did not indicate he had any pre-existing medical condition that could have contributed to his death. A medical examiner's report is pending.

Jackson's family and friends declined to comment Sunday.