State Police arrest New City man for Criminally Negligent Homicide following lengthy investigation
NEW YORK STATE POLICE
Major Robin H. Benziger
Troop K Commander
PRESS RELEASE
Westchester County, New York – The New York State Police announce the arrest of Clifford Perkins, age 25, of New City, New York, in regard to the fatal motor vehicle accident that claimed the life of Scott D. Phillips, 45 years old, of West New York, New Jersey, in May of 2014.
On April 16, 2015, the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) from the Hawthorne barracks arrested Perkins following a Westchester County grand jury indictment.
The arrest comes several months after a detailed investigation conducted by the State Police. On May 25, 2014, while Perkins was operating a 2002 Yamaha motorcycle southbound on the Sprain Brook Parkway at a high rate of speed, he struck the rear of a 2001 Mazda, operated by Edward T. Murray, Jr. of Mamaroneck who was also traveling south. As a result of this collision, Mr. Murray lost control of his vehicle and stuck the left guide rail. Scott Phillips who was also traveling southbound while operating a 2013 BMW Motorcycle, collided with the Mazda. Mr. Phillips was ejected from his motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene. Perkins was transported to Westchester Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Mr. Murray was transported to Westchester Medical Center with minor injuries and released several hours later.
The indictment charges Perkins with the following:
• Criminally Negligent Homicide, a class “E” Felony
• Reckless Endangerment 2nd, a Class “A” Misdemeanor,
• Reckless Driving, an unclassified Misdemeanor,
• Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle 2nd, an unclassified Misdemeanor
• Also, two traffic infractions consisting of imprudent speed and unsafe lane change.
Perkins was arraigned in Westchester County Court and subsequently released after posting $20,000 bail. Perkins is scheduled to reappear at the Westchester County Court on April 28, 2015.
The New York State Police was assisted during the investigation by the West New York Police Department in West New York, NJ, the Town of Greenburgh Police Department, the Westchester County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.
