World Courant
NEW YORK — A New York Police Division inspector has been indicted on expenses that he lied to investigators and tried to have incriminating video footage deleted after his girlfriend drunkenly crashed his police automobile right into a taxi, prosecutors mentioned Thursday.
Deputy Inspector Paul Zangrilli, who headed a Manhattan police division, is accused of attempting to cowl up the 2022 wreck by, amongst different issues, switching seats together with his girlfriend after the wreck after which providing the taxi driver cash.
Zangrilli pleaded not responsible to all expenses. His legal professional, Eric Franz, didn’t instantly reply to cellphone messages from The Related Press, however advised some information media Zangrilli was a revered inspector who had been ready for 2 years for “ clear his good identify.”
Prosecutors in Manhattan mentioned Zangrilli was ingesting together with his girlfriend one summer time night when he let her trip in his unmarked police automobile. She crashed right into a taxi after which sped away from the scene with Zangrilli within the passenger seat, Manhattan prosecutors mentioned.
As a substitute of reporting his girlfriend, prosecutors mentioned Zangrilli switched seats together with her after which continued driving. When the cab driver handed them at a purple gentle and flagged down one other police officer, prosecutors mentioned Zangrilli repeatedly provided the cab driver $500 or $1,000 as a substitute of exchanging insurance coverage data.
Zangrilli then referred to as an NYPD captain and advised a collection of lies: that he had been driving alone and was on his technique to work when the crash occurred.
Prosecutors allege he quickly registered in his house precinct and referred to as the bar’s proprietor, asking him to delete video footage that allegedly captured the couple’s three-hour ingesting session.
“This alleged conduct was extremely harmful, leading to accidents to 1 taxi driver and endangering the security of many different drivers and pedestrians. Moreover, this NYPD Deputy Inspector, a commanding officer on the time, allegedly went to nice lengths to cowl up the incident to keep away from accountability,” Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg mentioned in an announcement. “We’ll proceed to carry officers accountable once they betray the general public belief.”
Zangrilli is charged with a number of crimes, together with tampering with proof, providing a false submitting instrument and falsifying company paperwork. He additionally faces expenses of ingesting and driving and misdemeanor expenses of misdemeanor and obstruction.
Zangrilli’s date was additionally charged with driving below the affect and pleaded not responsible.
Zangrilli earned about $200,000 in base wage and different compensation in 2023, in keeping with New York Metropolis public wage information.
Zangrilli was suspended with out pay, the NYPD mentioned in an announcement.
An NYPD detective tried to cowl up his date’s drunken accident, prosecutors say
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