NYPD Detective Arrested After Queens Hit-And-Run Involving Elderly Woman
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An NYPD detective was arrested and charged Tuesday following a hit-and-run accident involving an 82-year-old woman in Hollis, Queens.
Michael Fantroy, 42, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident after he allegedly struck Doris Gadpaille and left her in the street with a fractured face, injured hip and lacerations to the temple and hand, police said.
"If he's a policeman, he should know better," Gadpaille told CBS 2's John Slattery on Tuesday during an exclusive interview.
The accident occurred on April 15 at around 10 p.m. at 199th Street and Hollis Avenue after Gadpaille got off a bus following a church trip. She said she was crossing an intersection about two blocks from her home when she was struck by an SUV that kept going, police said.
"I already crossed the street -- that can't remember. I don't know where what happened...I don't know," said Gadpaille, who added she doesn't remember being hit.
Another motorist followed the car to a home a couple blocks away -- the home of Det. Fantroy, Slattery reported.
But Det. Fantroy's attorney told CBS 2's Sean Hennessey that there may not be any evidence to suggest that his client was behind the wheel of the vehicle.
"The issue of whether he was in the vehicle at the time is still the district attorney's burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt," attorney James Moschella said.
Doris Gadpaille said she is forgiving and when asked if the person responsible should be punished, she answered "Leave it up to [the] law and God."
"When he's sitting in front of a judge he has to stop and think that could have been his own mother that he could have hit down ," added the victim's son, Ivanhoe Gadpaille.
Detective Dantroy has turned in his badge and his gun and has been suspended without pay.
Gadpaille's family said they are grateful she is alive and home to nurse her injuries.
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