-from newsday.com-

By Patrick Whittle and Reid Epstein

Police are investigating the death of a Bay Shore man who they said collapsed in police custody shortly after resisting arrest for dealing in drugs.

Kenny Lazo, 26, of Walbridge Avenue, was pronounced dead at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore after collapsing Saturday about 9 p.m. in an interview room at the Suffolk County Police Department’s Third Precinct station house, said Sgt. Edward Fandrey.

Lazo was in custody at the station following his arrest a half-hour earlier after a violent struggle with officers following a traffic stop, Fandrey said.

Police said they pulled Lazo over about 8:30 p.m. near the intersection of Bay Shore Road and the Southern State Parkway after detectives saw him selling drugs on the street nearby.

After he was pulled over, Lazo got out of his car and complied with officers but then swung an elbow at an officer and attempted to flee on foot. He was caught soon after and put up what police called “a violent struggle” in which he attempted to grab an officer’s gun, police said.

It took three officers to catch and subdue the 5-foot-8, 238- pound Lazo, who had $2,400 and more than a half-ounce of crack and powder cocaine on him, Fandrey said.

Lazo was eventually handcuffed and brought to the precinct station house in North Bay Shore, where he collapsed at about 9 p.m. during an interview with police, Fandrey said.

An officer had called for medical assistance a few minutes earlier when it “became apparent that he needed some medical intervention, ” Fandrey said. Five officers tried to assist Lazo before assistance arrived, Fandrey said.

Lazo was pronounced dead at the hospital at about 9:45, Fandrey said. A medical examiner’s report is pending. The autopsy report is expected in a few weeks, Fandrey said, and police are continuing their investigation.