District Attorney Eric Gonzalez will not immediately press charges against the off-duty police officer cuffed for allegedly killing a woman with his car in East Flatbush on Sunday, and authorities have since cut him loose.
Investigators arrested 47-year-old Rohan Shaw after determining he was slightly intoxicated behind the wheel of his 2019 Nissan GTR on Foster Avenue at around 5 am, when he smashed into a 2016 Mazda MZ6 at the intersection of E. 55th Street, according to authorities.
However, prosecutors with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office “deferred” the case citing “insufficient evidence” and Shaw was released from custody, although prosecutors stress that future charges may be pending pursuant to an ongoing investigation.
The collision caused the Mazda — carrying a driver and two passengers — to spin out of control and hit a telephone pole.
Shaw remained on the scene until authorities arrived, but the driver of the Mazda — who cops accused of running a stop sign just before the collision — fled on foot, and the motorist remains on the lam, according to a Police Department spokeswoman.
First responders eventually arrived on the scene and rushed one of the Mazda’s passengers — Joanna Dixon, who was celebrating her 23rd birthday that night — to Brookdale Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.
The car’s other passenger was taken to Kings County Hospital in serious but stable condition, police said.
The off-duty officer was initially charged with vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, speeding, and driving while alcohol impaired — a charge which results from a blood alcohol count above .05-percent, but below the .08-percent legal limit, authorities said.
First responders later administered a blood test to Shaw, which will provide authorities with more clarity — and possibly lead the district attorney to take formal action, authorities said.
In the meantime, the deceased victim’s father expressed hope that authorities would eventually opt to prosecute the alleged drunk driver.
“Our heads are not in the right place right now, but I do believe in the justice system and I believe it will work,” said Colin Dixon. “I’m told they are waiting for some reports to come back and other things. I don’t want to pass judgment without all the facts.”
Family members say funeral arrangements are underway.
Meanwhile, investigators are still searching for the missing Mazda driver.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential.
