Jatinderpal Singh, ex-NYPD officer from Long Island, indicted in hit-and-run crash that severely injured woman in Queens
Investigators charged that Jatinderpal Singh never reported the crash to his NYPD superiors Credit: AP
A former NYPD officer from Valley Stream was indicted in connection with a hit-and-run crash that severely injured a 22-year-old woman crossing a Queens street in March, officials said on Wednesday.
Jatinderpal Singh, was arraigned Wednesday on a 14-count indictment accusing him of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, tampering with physical evidence and other charges stemming from the crash early on March 14, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
In a statement, Katz said Singh, 26, was driving with a friend in the friend’s Cadillac Escalade at a "high rate of speed" by Rockaway Boulevard and 122nd Place in South Ozone Park when Singh allegedly struck the woman as she crossed the street.
Singh allegedly fled the crash scene without rendering aid and, the next day, directed one of the other SUV passengers to have it repaired in Centereach, Katz said.
Investigators charged that Singh never reported the crash to his NYPD superiors, which is standard procedure, and told a passenger to delete phone photos that showed Singh driving the SUV. Katz also alleged that Singh told a passenger to lie to police and not cooperate with the investigation.
The woman struck by the Cadillac was knocked unconscious, suffered internal injuries, lost her spleen and had pins placed in her legs, according to Katz.
Singh, who resigned from the NYPD in May, was arraigned in Queens before State Supreme Court Justice Peter Vallone, who ordered him to return to court on Sept. 24. Singh faces up to 7 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge.
Vallone set bail for Singh at $500,000 cash, $1 million secured bond or $2 million partially secured bond, according to a spokesman for Katz.
Defense attorney Kenneth B. Russo declined to comment on Wednesday about the case. Russo did say that Singh expected to post bail on Thursday.
Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.
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