Current:Home > NewsNY state police launch criminal probe into trooper suspended over account of being shot and wounded -DataFinance
NY state police launch criminal probe into trooper suspended over account of being shot and wounded
View
Date:2025-04-14 14:12:41
NEW YORK (AP) — New York State Police have launched a criminal investigation of a trooper who claimed he was shot and wounded by an unknown gunman on a Long Island highway last week.
State police Maj. Stephen Udice, commander of the troop based on Long Island, confirmed Wednesday that investigators no longer believe the account given by Trooper Thomas Mascia and that they are weighing criminal charges.
The 27-year-old, who became a trooper in 2019, was suspended without pay Monday.
“I can tell you that if it is determined that criminal charges are appropriate, then they will be filed,” Udice said at a press conference at the troop’s headquarters in Farmingdale. “I want to assure everyone that we are conducting this investigation with a level of thoroughness, professionalism and intensity the public expects from the New York State Police.”
Udice declined to say what investigators believe happened or what searches conducted in recent days at Mascia’s home in West Hempstead have yielded.
“I can tell you that based on our investigation so far, we have reason to believe that the incident did not occur the way it was reported,” he said, adding that the probe is “far from over.”
Udice also said he’s “disappointed” in the turn of events after he had lauded the trooper while he was recovering in the hospital.
“I think that it overshadows the outstanding and great work that the members of the state police do each and every day,” he said. “As you can imagine, there’s a lot of emotion right now.”
Mascia claimed he was shot in the leg on Oct. 30 by the driver of a black sedan that had been parked on the left-hand shoulder of the Southern State Parkway, about a mile from his home.
The trooper claimed the driver fled in the direction of New York City in a car with temporary New Jersey registration, prompting authorities to launch a manhunt that lasted days.
Police said there was no video footage of the episode since the trooper’s body camera was not activated at the time.
Mascia’s attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, said in an email Wednesday that he and his client are “in touch” with the Nassau County District Attorney’s office and “presently assisting” with the investigation. He declined to comment further.
veryGood! (89156)
Related
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
Ranking
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
Recommendation
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
What to watch: O Jolie night
'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning