February 20, 2026
Defendants Allegedly Manipulated Body Worn Camera Video
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of two New York City Police Department (NYPD) Officers, MICHAEL CALIGIURI, 31, and RYAN MCLOUGHLIN, 30, for allegedly covering up a drunk driving crash involving an off-duty officer and manipulating evidence.
The defendants are charged with one count of Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree; one count of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree; one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence; and two counts of Official Misconduct. [1]
“The defendants allegedly went to great lengths to protect a fellow officer from accountability,” said District Attorney Bragg. “This type of conduct significantly harms the public trust in law enforcement. Everyone must be treated the same under the law, regardless of their position or background.”
As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record, on October 16, 2024, at approximately 10:18 p.m., a civilian called 911 to report a car crash involving an intoxicated driver at West 26th Street and 8th Avenue. The defendants responded to the call and once they arrived on scene, the civilian informed MCLOUGHLIN that the driver in the 2020 Infiniti SUV was intoxicated. The civilian also stated the driver of the Infinity had allegedly shown him a police badge and identified himself as a police officer. An NYPD-issued parking placard was also on the dashboard of the driver’s vehicle.
The driver of the Infiniti, Eli Garcia, allegedly struggled to provide his license and was unable to locate the vehicle registration, but did show CALIGIURI an NYPD identification card.
CALIGIURI allegedly never questioned Garcia about his supposed intoxicated state and positioned his body-worn camera so that it would not fully capture his interaction Garcia.
CALIGIURI and MCLOUGHLIN then allegedly began communicating almost exclusively through text messages on their personal phones out of view of the body-worn camera.
As alleged, at one point, MCLOUGHLIN texted defendant CALIGIURI, “Idk what to do.” CALIGIURI responded with, “it[’]s bad man.” MCLOUGHLIN then texted CALIGIURI, “I’ll hold your camera[]?”
CALIGIURI then allegedly removed his body-worn camera from his chest and slid it into MCLOUGHLIN’s hand. MCLOUGHLIN held the device in his right hand, with his arm extended at chest level, so that it would appear CALIGIURI was standing beside him.
CALIGIURI then allegedly walked away so his voice would not be captured on video and called a supervising Lieutenant, before returning and taking back his body-worn camera.
MCLOUGHLIN then texted “what he say,” to which CALIGIURI did not respond.
Shortly thereafter Garcia drove away from the scene, without asking or receiving permission to do so, leaving behind his driver’s license. Other than waving their flashlights toward the rear of the fleeing vehicle, the defendants allegedly made no attempt to stop the vehicle, nor did they call over the police radio that the individual had fled the scene.
A few hours later, at approximately 1:15 a.m., an NYPD Duty Captain went to Garcia’s apartment and observed Garcia’s vehicle parked illegally in a crosswalk. After speaking with Garcia, the Duty Captain found him to be intoxicated and unfit for duty. He was arrested and charged.
On December 2, 2024, Garcia pleaded guilty to Driving While Ability Impaired and was sentenced to a conditional discharge, an Impaired Driver Program, a 90-day license suspension, and more than $1,500 in fines and restitution. He subsequently resigned from the NYPD.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A. Tavish DeAtley, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Kristen Bitetto (Deputy Chief of Police Accountability Unit) and Nicholas Viorst (Chief of the Police Accountability Unit). Senior Investigative Analyst David Wingens and Senior Rackets Investigator Sergeant Michael-Paul Greenwood are assisting with the case along with members of the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau, Group 12.
Defendant Information:
MICHAEL CALIGIURI Long Beach, NY
Charged:
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Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree, a class D felony, one count
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Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony, one count
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Tampering with Physical Evidence, a class E felony, one count
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Official Misconduct, a class A misdemeanor, two counts
RYAN MCLOUGHLIN Suffern, NY
Charged:
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Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree, a class D felony, one count
-
Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony, one count
-
Tampering with Physical Evidence, a class E felony, one count
-
Official Misconduct, a class A misdemeanor, two counts
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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.