Questions Arise Over Handling Of NY Cop Suspected Of DWI
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The NYPD is investigating the handling of a suspected DWI incident.
Officer Rafael Casiano, who works in the East Village as a housing cop, was driving on the Bronx River Parkway early Friday morning when he lost control of his personal vehicle, hit a divider and flipped over. He suffered back injuries but his passenger, who happened to be his partner, Keith Paul, suffered serious head injuries.
When police arrived at the scene Casiano admitted that he had been drinking, however a breathalyzer test was not administered until 1 p.m. It showed his blood-alcohol level was between .032 and .029 well below the .08 limit.
Despite the delay, internal affairs investigators, "after interviewing EMT and medical staff and obtaining a warrant for the subject's blood, made the determination that he was unfit for duty, arrested him for DWI and suspended him,'' Browne said.
The NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau "is investigating why there was an inordinate delay in it being notified after an off-duty member of the service was involved in a one-car accident,'' spokesman Paul Browne said.
Casiano was arraigned Friday night on charges of DWI and vehicular assault and freed on $5,000 bail. The name of his lawyer was not immediately available.
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