Westchester DA releases findings in investigation of Tuckahoe police response to crash involving retired police chief's wife
The DA's office says there is insufficient evidence to criminally charge Tuckahoe police officers over their response to a crash involving the wife of a retired village police chief.
More Stories
The Westchester County District Attorney's office has released its findings regarding the actions and conduct of the Tuckahoe police officers who responded to the scene of a crash in Tuckahoe.
The DA's office says there is insufficient evidence to criminally charge Tuckahoe police officers over their response to a crash involving the wife of a retired village police chief.
It occurred on Aug. 14 and stretched from Yonkers to Tuckahoe.
According to the DA’s findings, the incident involved Donna Costanzo, the wife of a former Tuckahoe police chief, John Costanzo. Investigators said she was allegedly driving a black Infiniti sedan.
The first two accidents happened in Yonkers. It was the third one that was the focus of the DA's investigation after she allegedly struck a parked Amazon Delivery Truck in Tuckahoe.
The DA's office did release body-worn camera video.
According to the review, one officer appeared to deactivate a body-worn camera moments after approaching Costanzo. Another officer’s camera stopped recording after about a minute and a half because its battery died.
Officials said witness testimony indicated Costanzo exhibited signs that could be consistent with intoxication. However, according to the findings, none of the responding Tuckahoe officers reported detecting alcohol on her breath or investigated whether she may have been impaired.
One responding officer said he knew who Costanzo was and took her to her home following the crash, according to the review.
After reviewing the evidence, the DA's office determined that there was insufficient evidence to charge any of the responding officers with criminal conduct.
The DA's office returned its findings to the Tuckahoe Police Department for an internal investigation. Chief Larry Rotta told News 12 that they will begin an investigation.
News 12 reached out to the mayor's office for comment.
Yonkers police did issue two summonses to Costanzo for the two accidents that occurred in Yonkers.
