Brooklyn Cop Indicted For Insurance Fraud After Claims Of Stolen Car
CROWN HEIGHTS – An NYPD cop was indicted for insurance fraud yesterday after claiming his car was stolen when in reality, it was torched a few days earlier.
On December 25, 2016, Officer Kirk Peddie, 43, called 911 to report that his 2006 BMW 650i convertible was stolen. Peddie is a 15-year veteran of the NYPD, assigned to the 66th Precinct at the time of the incident.
He then filed two depositions stating that he had seen and last moved the vehicle to a parking spot near his Crown Heights home three days prior on December 22. He also filed a claim with his insurance company, State Farm Mutual Automobile Company. Again, he submitted another affidavit claiming that he last saw the vehicle a few days prior to when it was allegedly stolen.
On December 20, 2016, the FDNY responded to a vehicular fire in East New York. They later found that the torched vehicle was a 2006 BMW 650i convertible, registered to Peddie himself.
On February 15, 2017, Peddie testified that he actually last saw and moved his vehicle on December 6, 2016. When asked why he changed the date, he said he had no explanation.
On August 22, Peddie was arrested and arraigned on an 11-count indictment in which he is charged with third- and fourth-degree insurance fraud, first-degree falsifying business records, third-degree attempted grand larceny, and related counts. He was released without bail and will return to court on October 23. If convicted of the top count, he can face up to seven years in prison.
According to the NYPD, he is suspended without pay.
“Insurance fraud victimizes both the insurer and paying customers that get hit with higher premiums,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. “That this crime was allegedly committed by a police officer is troublesome because we demand honesty and integrity from all of our law enforcement officials. We intend to hold this defendant accountable and continue to investigate every instance of fraud or misconduct.”
