A former NYPD officer was arrested for slamming a speeding Cadillac Escalade into a 22-year-old woman in Queens and then trying to cover up the hit-and-run crash, telling his passengers to keep their mouths shut and to lie to police if questioned, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Jatinderpal Singh, 26, was driving a friend’s black SUV at high speeds when he struck the victim near Rockaway Blvd. and 122nd Place in South Ozone Park around 2:03 a.m. on March 14, according to Queens prosecutors.
The crash left the victim suffering severe injuries to her head and torso. Medics rushed her to a local hospital, where her spleen was removed and metal rods needed to be inserted into both legs.
Singh, who was with the NYPD at the time but off-duty, never stopped to help the injured woman and instead fled the scene, prosecutors said.
The cop then told his passengers to delete any images or videos of him driving the car that night, while instructing them not to cooperate with police and to lie if they were ever questioned, officials said.
The day after the crash, Singh ordered one of his passengers to take the car to a mechanic in Centereach, Long Island, for repairs. Photos taken at the shop show damage to the SUV’s front end and headlight.
“This defendant was sworn to uphold the law and instead showed complete disregard for the rules of the road as he sped through the streets of Queens and struck a pedestrian,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “He then fled the scene, failed to help the victim and attempted to cover up his alleged actions.”
Singh was charged in an indictment unsealed Wednesday with leaving the scene of an incident, conspiracy, official misconduct, and obstruction in addition to various moving violations, including citations related to speeding and running a red light, officials said.
He was ordered held on bail set at $50,000 cash and $100,000 insurance bond after pleading not guilty in Queens Supreme Criminal Court Wednesday, records show.
Singh resigned from the NYPD in May, although it wasn’t clear his departure was connected to the crash. He is due back in court on Sept. 24.