Widow of man who died of heart disease after 15 hours in Brooklyn police stationhouse sues NYPD, city

The widow of a man who died in police custody is suing the NYPD and the city, saying officers should have realized her husband was in distress during the more than 15 hours he spent in a Brooklyn precinct last year.

John Grieco, 65, was pulled over on suspicion of drunken driving at about 10 p.m. June 3, 2021, near the corner of Bay 14th St. and Cropsey Ave. in Bath Beach.

Cops took him to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, where his blood alcohol level measured at .253 percent — more than three times the legal limit of .08, police said days after his death.

Officers took Grieco the 62nd Precinct stationhouse at about 1:30 a.m. and at about 5 p.m., cops found him unconscious on the floor of his holding cell, police said.

He was taken to Coney Island Hospital, where he died.

An autopsy revealed he died of natural causes — hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, brought on by long QT syndrome, a heart signaling disorder that can cause fast, chaotic heartbeats, diabetes, obesity and chronic alcohol use, said a spokeswoman for the city Medical Examiner.

In a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court Tuesday, his wife, Michele Grieco, alleges that he died because the NYPD’s “failing to heed the complaints, signs and symptoms of (Grieco) while he was in police custody.”

The widow also claims the cops should have left her husband in the hospital and been more aware of his medical conditions.

Michele Grieco and her lawyer, Jeffrey Shapiro, declined comment.

The NYPD declined to comment on the allegations in the lawsuit, and said “the incident is under investigation by the Force Investigation Division” when asked if any of the officers faced disciplinary action.

The city Law Department did not return a message seeking comment about the suit.