Police officer charged for filing false accident report

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s office has announced charges against Philadelphia Police Officer April Shaynick for allegedly filing a false accident report and insurance claim in August.

Shaynick was involved in a crash at Van Kirk Street and Summerdale Avenue, according to the DA’s office, but fled the scene.

From the office of Seth Williams: 

The District Attorney’s Office today charged 42-year-old April Shaynick with insurance fraud, theft by deception, tampering with public records, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries, unsworn falsifications to authorities and false reports to law enforcement for an automobile accident in August 2012.

Shaynick, who is a Philadelphia Police Officer, hit another car at Van Kirk Street and Summerdale Avenue, left the scene of the accident, and then filed a false claim with Allstate Insurance Company.  Shaynick turned herself into to police this morning and is scheduled to be arraigned later today.

On Aug. 9, 2012, Shaynick was operating her 2004 Honda Civic when she ran a stop sign at Van Kirk Street and Summerdale Avenue.  Shaynick struck a 2003 Mazda Protégé that was occupied by a driver and a passenger.  Shaynick never stopped to assess damage or inquire if anyone was injured, and just simply fled the scene.  The driver of the Mazda did suffer injuries to her right knee and had to be transported from the scene in an ambulance.  There were multiple witnesses to the accident, including a pizza delivery driver who was able to snap a photo of Shaynick’s license plate as she fled from the accident.

Instead of reporting the accident, Shaynick went home and filed a false report to Allstate Insurance Company the next day.  In the claim she stated that her car was parked unattended on Oxford Avenue on Aug. 10, 2012. Shaynick further stated that she was inside her house when she heard a crash.  When she came out she claimed she discovered that an unknown person had struck her parked vehicle. Shaynick also fraudulently provided a police report that she wrote herself to the insurance company.  Allstate Insurance Company paid Shaynick over $4,000 to have her car repaired before discovering how the damage actually occurred.