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Valhalla resident Raymond Beckley, 25, a former police officer in New Castle and New Rochelle, pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence dating back to a hit-and-run crash in November 2016 that left his victims with broken bones and head trauma in White Plains.
The felony complaint states that at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2016, Beckley was driving his Ford F350 on Hale Avenue in White Plains when he struck a man and woman who were crossing the roadway.
According to Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr., knowing what he had done, Beckley did not stay to help the two victims, but instead quickly fled the scene and did not report the incident.
Investigators from the White Plains Police Department were at the scene in minutes, where they found Beckley’s two alleged victims bleeding, and suffering from “serious physical injuries.” Both were taken to a local hospital for treatment on their injuries.
On the day of the crash, Beckley had resigned his position as a police officer in New Rochelle, just hours before the hit-and-run. He began working as an officer in New Castle the following day, though he resigned from that position in January last year.
Following the crash, Beckley allegedly attempted to conceal his involvement following the hit-and-run incident, having the front end of his damaged pickup truck repaired and moving it out of state as detectives investigating the crash were actively attempting to locate it.
Beckley was arrested on July 5 and initially charged with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, and two counts of tampering with physical evidence, all felonies. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 27 next year.
“Upholding public integrity and prosecuting those who flaunt it is a high priority for this office,” Scarpino stated at the time of Beckley's arrest. “We commend the White Plains Police Department for their investigation into this crime along with our Investigations Division Public Integrity Bureau. A police officer in any jurisdiction needs to be held to the high standards for which he is sworn to uphold. Those who were injured deserve justice.”
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