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Main Page Fitchburg PD det. arrested for OUI
(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: PBC FL Cop

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Officer faces DUI charge

City man denies involvement in accident

By Mary Jo Hill TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

FITCHBURG— A city police detective who is part of the drug suppression unit was arrested Saturday on a drunken driving charge after his car stopped on Interstate 190 in Sterling and was hit by another car, said state Trooper Kara M. England.

Perry N. Pappas, 50, of Fitchburg, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, Trooper England said.

A 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee being driven by Detective Pappas had stopped on Interstate 190 northbound when it was hit by another vehicle, Trooper England said, citing a preliminary investigation.

The trooper said yesterday that Matthew C. Irish, 34, of Worcester, was driving the 2004 Honda Civic that hit Detective Pappas’ Jeep, but there is no indication in the report that Mr. Irish has been issued a citation.

When asked whether Detective Pappas’ Grand Cherokee was in the breakdown lane at the time of the crash, Trooper England said the incident remains under investigation.

One detail that remains in question is the identity of the driver of the Honda.

After being contacted by reporters about the crash, Mr. Irish said, “I have no knowledge of this incident. I was not involved.”

Mr. Irish said he learned of the accident Monday when a reporter contacted him, and he’s still trying to determine what happened. Yesterday, he said he hadn’t been able to see the accident report or speak to the arresting officer.

“I am concerned that I’m a victim of identity theft,” Mr. Irish said.

Mr. Irish said he doesn’t own a 2004 Honda Civic, and at the time of the crash he was sound asleep next to his wife, who is seven and a half months pregnant with twins.

State Police Sgt. Carol MacDonald said Mr. Irish needs to speak with the arresting trooper and prove that he wasn’t the driver involved in the crash.

The accident, which was reported about 2:55 a.m., occurred north of Exit 5 in Sterling, the trooper said.

Mr. Irish was taken by ambulance with minor injuries to UMass Memorial — HealthAlliance Leominster Campus, Trooper England said.

Peter Rivera, 22, of Fitchburg, was a passenger in the Honda and wasn’t injured, the trooper said.

Detective Pappas wasn’t injured either, Trooper England said.

Detective Pappas is scheduled to be arraigned April 13 in Clinton District Court, according to the court.

Fitchburg lawyer Steven Panagiotes confirmed that he is representing Detective Pappas but wouldn’t comment on the case.

Police Chief Edward F. Cronin said Detective Pappas was in the drug suppression unit, which investigates drug cases.

Since his arrest, he has been transferred to the staff services division, and he’s been assigned to work in house, Chief Cronin said.

Detective Pappas’ driver’s license was suspended, so he can’t perform some of his duties that require driving, Chief Cronin said.

Police Capt. Mark W. Louney is doing an internal investigation into the incident, the chief said.

The internal investigation will determine whether any of the department’s policies have been broken, Chief Cronin said.

“We just take these matters very seriously,” Chief Cronin said.

Detective Pappas has been with the Fitchburg Police Department for 20 years and spent about four years of that time as a detective, the chief said.

In 1999, Detective Pappas, who was off duty at the time, was one of two passengers in a vehicle being driven by a 20-year-old woman who was drunk. The vehicle hit a utility pole. The woman suffered severe head injuries in the crash and died six months later at home.

Posted by: Wolfman

Posted by: GD

that is so wrong!!

Posted by: j809

Quote:

Fitchburg lawyer Steven Panagiotes confirmed that he is representing Detective Pappas but wouldn’t comment on the case.

Not Guilty. Could have booked it as an accident.

Posted by: screamineagle

Innocent until proven guilty.

Posted by: Wolfman

I think a big part of a lot of us is saying that there's got to be more to it. I guess wait & see.

Posted by: PBC FL Cop

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfman

I think a big part of a lot of us is saying that there's got to be more to it.

One would think/hope there is.

Posted by: Danman

Innocent until proven guilty.

Posted by: PBC FL Cop

Thursday, April 12, 2007

DA names special prosecutor

Det Pappas case is shifted to avoid conflict of interest

A special prosecutor has been appointed to handle the drunken-driving case against Fitchburg Detective Perry N. Pappas, according to the district attorney’s office.

Timothy J. Connolly, spokesman for District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr., said yesterday Worcester lawyer John M. Goggins will take the case to avoid an appearance of conflict, since Detective Pappas is a police officer.

Detective Pappas, 50, is scheduled for a jury trial May 2 in Central District Court, Worcester, on a charge of driving under the influence of liquor. The case was transferred from Clinton District Court.

State police arrested Detective Pappas, a 20-year veteran of the Fitchburg force, after a two-car accident about 3 a.m. March 10 on Interstate 190 in Sterling. The other driver, Reginald E. Sanford Jr., 24, of Leominster, was to be summoned to court on charges of driving to endanger and failing to stay within marked lanes. State police said Detective Pappas’ SUV was stopped on I-190 northbound when it was hit by Mr. Sanford’s car.

Mr. Sanford was treated for minor injuries. Neither Detective Pappas nor a passenger in Mr. Sanford’s car was injured.

In his report on the accident, Trooper Michael Caranfa wrote that Detective Pappas smelled of alcohol and that his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. The Fitchburg officer told the trooper he had consumed two beers, the report said. After Detective Pappas refused to take a field sobriety test, he was arrested and taken to the state police barracks in Holden, where he also refused to take a blood alcohol test, Trooper Caranfa wrote.

After the arrest, Fitchburg Police Chief Edward F. Cronin said Detective Pappas was transferred from the department’s drug suppression unit to the staff services division.

Posted by: PBC FL Cop

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Fitchburg officer NOT guilty in DUI

Jury not told that defendant was detective

By Gary V. Murray TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER— A Fitchburg detective charged with drunken-driving was acquitted after a jury trial yesterday in Central District Court.

Detective Perry N. Pappas, 50, a 20-year veteran of the Fitchburg police force, was arrested after a two-vehicle accident shortly before 3 a.m. March 10 on Interstate 190 in Sterling.

A six-member jury found Detective Pappas not guilty on a charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol after deliberating for about an hour. Detective Pappas declined to comment on the verdict.

Police said Detective Pappas was the driver of a Jeep Cherokee that was struck from behind by a Honda Civic driven by 24-year-old Reginald E. Sanford Jr. of Leominster on I-190 northbound, about one mile north of Exit 5.

Mr. Sanford, who was injured in the crash, testified that his car struck Detective Pappas’ vehicle after the Jeep Cherokee entered into his travel lane from the breakdown lane. Using crutches as a result of leg injuries he said he suffered in the accident, Mr. Sanford testified that Detective Pappas was “mumbling” incoherently after the crash and that the officer’s speech was slurred.

Mr. Sanford was cited by police on charges of driving so as to endanger and a marked lanes violation.

State Trooper Michael Caranfa testified that Detective Pappas smelled of alcohol and that his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. He said the Fitchburg officer told him he had consumed two beers. Trooper Caranfa said he arrested Detective Pappas after forming the opinion he was driving while under the influence.

Under cross-examination by Detective Pappas’ lawyer, Steven W. Panagiotes, Trooper Caranfa agreed that Detective Pappas appeared steady on his feet and that his speech was normal.

In his closing argument to the jury, Mr. Panagiotes noted that Mr. Sanford had hired a lawyer to represent him in a civil suit stemming from the accident. Despite Mr. Sanford’s testimony to the contrary, Mr. Panagiotes said the physical evidence clearly showed that his client’s vehicle was stopped in the breakdown lane when it was struck by Mr. Sanford’s car.

“There’s a difference between having probable cause to arrest someone and convicting someone of a crime,” Mr. Panagiotes told the jury.

District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. appointed lawyer John M. Goggins as a special prosecutor in the case to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. Mr. Goggins suggested to the jury that Mr. Sanford was a credible witness and said Mr. Sanford could have provided testimony more damaging to the officer if he had been “out to bury” him.

The jurors were not told that Detective Pappas is a police officer. Nor were they aware that he had refused to take a field sobriety test or a blood-alcohol test, as police reports indicate.

Posted by: OutOfManyOne

Quote:

Detective Pappas’ lawyer, Steven W. Panagiotes

Of course, didn't someone say that before.

Posted by: pahapoika

glad he won.

Posted by: 209

He's still going to be riding a desk for a while for refusing the BT

Posted by: pahapoika

that was a weird story.

Posted by: Wolfman

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratwatcher

State Police arrest a town or city Cop? Wow shocking! The thin blue line get's thinner and thinner.. I hope Fitchburg extends the same professional courtesy to them if, one of their own gets in a pinch in their city!!!!!

There's gotta be volumes more to this than what the rags are reporting.

Posted by: OutOfManyOne

Yeah, a serious MV crash occured and people were injured. Sorry, the courtesy is out the window at that point.

Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfManyOne

Yeah, a serious MV crash occured and people were injured. Sorry, the courtesy is out the window at that point.

and who caused the accident?

any one know how long this trooper's been on the job?

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