Cops: False gun claim against Pequannock officer

PEQUANNOCK - An Irvington woman has been charged with falsely reporting that a township officer yelled and pointed his handgun at her, a claim disproved by the video system in the officer's patrol car, police Capt. Christopher DePuyt said in a news release Wednesday.

The motorist, identified as Hyacinth Peccoo, 50, went to Pequannock headquarters on Oct. 28 and said she wished to make a complaint about an officer that stopped her for a motor vehicle infraction on Oct. 15. She met with Detective  Lt. Michael Fairweather, the department's internal affairs officer, and said she was pulled over for failing to stop at a stop sign.

Peccoo claimed the infraction was not true and then alleged that the police officer yelled at her, removed his firearm and pointed it at her, the release said.

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"Ms. Peccoo stated that she asked the officer if he was going to kill her in broad daylight," the release said.

After completing a written statement of her account and giving an interview that was both audio and video recorded, Fairweather advised Peccoo that her stop was recorded by the patrol car's video system.

"Fairweather and Ms. Peccoo then reviewed the six-minute video that showed all of her allegations to be false.  During the traffic stop, the officer never yelled at Ms. Peccoo and never removed his firearm from its holster," the release said.

The motorist was issued one traffic summons for failure to change the address on her driver's license.  She has been charged with making a false report to law enforcement authorities, which is a disorderly persons offense.  She has a pending court appearance.

DePuyt, the department spokesman, said Peccoo's claims were taken seriously and reported to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office as part of the internal affairs process.

   Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com.