Trooper Who Drove Wrong Way In Cambridge Placed On Restricted Duty
CAMBRIDGE (CBS) - A Massachusetts state trooper who allegedly drove the wrong way down Memorial Drive in Cambridge two months ago has been placed on restricted duty.
According to State Police, Adam Paicos, 29, was off-duty on April 3 when two fellow troopers spotted him driving the wrong way down the road.
When troopers began to follow him, Paicos pulled into a parking lot and got out of his vehicle. He identified himself to the troopers as a member of the State Police, and for reasons now being investigated, he was not placed under arrest.
State Police spokesperson Dave Procopio confirmed the department is also "examining how the incident was handled." He would not say whether or not troopers administered a field sobriety test on April 3rd.
Also under investigation is whether or not Paicos was driving drunk at the time. Procopio also indicated that there were three other incidents involving Paicos that occurred within the last several weeks and that State Police are investigating those as well.
"We are not providing specific details of the April 3 events or of three other incidents of varying severity," the statement said.
News of the incident brought up questions about Paicos' past. Monday night, a top state law enforcement official confirmed for WBZ-TV that before he became a trooper, Paicos was working at Southeastern Massachusetts police department when an accusation of statutory rape surfaced in which Paicos was allegedly involved.
On Tuesday, State Police gave a detailed clarification on Paicos' "involvement," saying in a statement that Paicos was never charged or accused of rape.
"State Police investigated this accusation during a detailed background check prior to hiring Trooper Paicos. That background check determined that a teenage girl reported to Abington Police that she had been raped by an unknown assailant. A day later, the girl admitted that she was not raped. Trooper Paicos, who knew the girl, was never accused of rape, and the local police department's investigation determined that no rape -- either by force or statutorily – occurred," the statement said. "The State Police conduct intensive background checks of all potential hires, and Trooper Paicos was no exception."
Adam Paicos is a member of the National Guard and so is his father Kevin Paicos who is the Foxboro Town Administrator. The elder Paicos defended his son on Tuesday.
"My son is an outstanding young man who has served our country in war and continues to serve as a member of the National Guard and could be deployed again," Kevin Paicos said. "He was thoroughly investigated by the Massachusetts State Police prior to entering the police academy and was found to have… not just an unblemished record… but indeed a record of good character personally and of public service."
Paicos was placed on restricted duty "for the duration of the investigation."
WBZ-TV Chief Correspondent Joe Shortsleeve contributed to this report. You can follow Joe on Twitter @JoeWBZ
