I-Team: Boston Police Officer Involved In Hyde Park Crash Facing OUI Charges
BOSTON (CBS) - A Boston Police officer exposed by the WBZ-TV I-Team is now facing criminal charges.
Officer Richard Jeanetti was charged Tuesday with operating under the influence, reckless and negligent operation and failing to stop at a stop sign for his role in a car accident back in May.
Jeanetti was off-duty when his pickup slammed into a car in Hyde Park on May 24.
Witnesses said he was speeding and apparently drunk at the time of the crash, which nearly killed 22-year-old Brianna O'Neill. He was not arrested or even given a Breathalyzer test that night, but medical records show his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit.
Although there was no mention of intoxication in the official police report, Boston Police are vigorously defending their investigation.
Jeanetti was placed on restricted duty, had his weapon taken away, and his driver's license was suspended by the RMV.
Boston Police say Jeanetti was not given a breathalyzer at the scene because he had to be transported to the hospital and officers knew he would have a blood alcohol test performed there.
Black box information from Jeanetti's truck show he was going 70 mph at the time of the crash.
Jeanetti will be arraigned in West Roxbury District Court at a future date.
"It's definitely a weight off my shoulders," says Brianna O'Neill, "because now I feel like he's not just going to walk away."
The physical road to recovery remains long for Brianna O'Neill, but knowing the man who injured her will finally face charges helps with her mental healing.
"I was definitely happy that he finally got the charges," she says. "But at the same time I am a little upset that it took this long and that I had to go out and put myself out in the public eye with my injuries. It's not easy for me. It's embarrassing to say the least.
Jeanetti's lawyer says his client maintains his innocence and plans to plead not guilty.
