(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police today arrested a Suffolk County Police Officer for fleeing the scene of a motor vehicle crash that seriously injured a motorcyclist in Ronkonkoma on September 20.
Thomas O’Neill, of Centereach, turned himself in at the Fourth Precinct this morning and was charged by Vehicular Crime detectives with Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Serious Physical Injury, a Class E Felony.
Suffolk County Police today arrested Suffolk County Police Officer Thomas O’Neill, 44, of Centereach for fleeing the scene of a motor vehicle crash that seriously injured a motorcyclist in Ronkonkoma on September 20. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.
On September 20, Charles Giardinello was riding a motorcycle eastbound on Portion Road, 100 feet east of Avenue B, when the motorcycle struck a westbound pickup truck that was attempting to turn left into a parking lot at approximately 7:25 p.m. The truck, driven by O’Neill, then fled the scene northbound on Avenue B.
Giardinello, 40, of Nesconset, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was admitted in critical condition.
O’Neill, 44, is a Suffolk County Police Officer assigned to the Community Response Bureau and has been with the department since 2003. He was off duty at the time of the crash and has been suspended without pay. O’Neill voluntarily submitted to a blood test. A physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner obtained the blood sample, which will be analyzed for alcohol and drugs.
O’Neill provided the vehicle involved in the crash and consented to a search as well as a forensic analysis of the vehicle.
O’Neill was arraigned today at First District Court in Central Islip.
Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Vehicular Crime Unit at 631-852-6555 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
