Manhattan prosecutors say two NYPD officers are now defendants themselves, accused of helping to bury the fallout from a drunk-driving crash involving an off-duty colleague in Chelsea.
According to the indictment, the officers allegedly obscured and then removed body-worn camera footage and failed to report or stop the off-duty officer as he fled the scene. Both officers were arraigned in Manhattan and pleaded not guilty, setting up what is likely to be a closely watched courtroom fight.
Bragg's Announcement
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg revealed the indictments in a post on X, saying his office brought the case to a grand jury. In that announcement, Alvin Bragg framed the prosecution as part of a broader effort to ensure public servants play by the same rules as everyone else, especially when the cameras are supposed to be rolling.
Prosecutors' Allegations and the Crash
Prosecutors identified the defendants as Officers Michael Caligiuri and Ryan McLoughlin and charged them with tampering with evidence and official misconduct, according to the New York Post. The charges stem from an October 2024 crash in Chelsea involving an off-duty NYPD officer. Investigators allege the two on-duty officers angled a body-worn camera so it would not fully capture their interaction, then removed the device and failed to report that the driver took off.
The off-duty officer later pleaded guilty to a DWI charge last year and resigned from the department, prosecutors say. Caligiuri and McLoughlin have both pleaded not guilty, and the next court date is set for June 15.
What Happens Next
The counts of tampering with evidence and official misconduct could bring serious criminal and career consequences if the officers are convicted. The Manhattan DA has argued that the alleged effort to interfere with body-camera footage cuts directly against public trust in the NYPD.
Prosecutors plan to move the case through pretrial proceedings and begin presenting evidence in court in the coming months, according to Alvin Bragg.
Union leaders have blasted the indictment as an overreach, while the DA's office insists it is about equal application of the law. Even before any trial testimony, the case is already feeding into New York City's ongoing, and often heated, debate over police oversight and internal accountability.
