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« Storm left 1,900 customers without power at peak | Today | Providence, Local 1033 reach pact covering 4 years » June 24, 2008Man, 23, who hit police car while driving drunk, pleads
Roman A. Dodd, of 61 Inkberry Drive, was driving drunk July 14, 2007, when the car he was driving north on Route 1 swerved and hit a police cruiser that had just pulled over another vehicle for speeding. The patrol car spun around, striking Lt. Gerald Richard, who had left his car for the traffic stop. The impact hurled Richard 33 feet into a ditch, where he lay with leg, shoulder and arm injuries. Dodd, who had just graduated from the University of Michigan, had been drinking beers and rum and Cokes at Amalfi’s restaurant in Narragansett before the collision, according to court records. Richard, 43, told today of lingering pain in his left shoulder and arm that awakens him four times a night, but worse he said is the realization that he might not work as a police officer again. “The fact that there’s a good chance I won’t go back to work as a police officer is emotionally crippling,” Richard said as his girlfriend wept. Dodd, too, once a high school track star who was debilitated in 2002 after being struck in the head by a hammer thrown by another student, addressed the court. “I know I can’t take it back,” he said. He vowed to do his time, come out and be a productive member of society. -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Under the plea agreement reached by Dodd’s lawyer, Richard Humphrey, and Special Assistant Attorney General Mark Trovato, Dodd received 10 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions, with two to serve and eight years suspended with probation for driving under the influence, serious bodily injury resulting. He got five years at the ACI, all to be suspended with probation, for driving to endanger resulting in serious bodily injury. His license will be suspended for three years beginning the day of his release. He must undergo substance abuse counseling and pay all Richard’s medical expenses that are not covered by insurance. Posted by Mike McKinney CommentsBill | June 24, 2008 11:55 PM link Habitual drunk drivers should be held responsible. A first time offender should be helped and rehabilited ASAP. The comment made by "Bill" is correct, however it's who you know and how much money you have. Because Bill have you seen the story of the Barrington young man that was drinking and driving his boat and killed a friend of his? He landed himself in jail and on bail very quickly.. Just quick enough to drink and hurt someone else and back in jail again, but low and behold - what did I see on TV the other day. He's on home confinement. Every situation is different and should be handled as such. This young man did not kill/murder anyone and should not have to serve in the ACI for 2 years. He should have been allowed to go to a rehab facility and spent a shorter amount of time in jail. Kathy | June 26, 2008 10:15 PM link Kathy, the Barrington man was on bail, which he violated. He has not yet gone to trial. Dodd was on bail, too, but there is no mention of his going off on a tear again in the interim between the incident and his sentencing. Neither is there any mention of whether he spent any recent time in a rehab, counseling, or AA either. Maybe he'll get a chance to do that over the next two years. Time to think | June 27, 2008 9:05 AM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
I'm glad to see drunk driving has finally become a crime in RI. For too long it was just a money maker for lawyers at traffic court. In the last year it seems like all of a sudden people are starting to serve time for this.