A West Tisbury police officer has been placed on paid leave after being cited for a drunken driving in a Thursday night car crash.
A West Tisbury police officer has been placed on paid leave after being cited for a drunken driving in a Thursday night car crash.
Russell R. Ventura, 39, of Oak Bluffs, was issued a citation for drunken driving, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and a marked lanes violation after his vehicle hit a tree on Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, according to Edgartown Police.
Officer Ventura is a police officer with the West Tisbury police department. According to a police report by Edgartown police officer William Bishop, Officer Ventura initially declined medical attention after the accident but later agreed to go to the hospital to be checked out.
The accident took place just after 7:30 p.m. Thursday near Metcalf Drive and Edgartown-West Tisbury Road, according to the police.
The report said the 2006 Honda CR-V that Officer Ventura was driving crossed the center divide line into the opposite lane of travel and then left the roadway and struck a tree.
According to the police report, Officer Ventura told police that he swerved while he was driving outbound on the road and “the car just dug in.”
“It appeared Russell attempted to correct his operation while being off the roadway by turning his wheel,” Officer Bishop wrote. “This caused the vehicle to roll over at least one time, but possibly more.”
All airbags deployed, the report said, and the car was likely totalled.
Edgartown-West Tisbury Road was closed and traffic diverted for a period after the accident. It was a foggy night and visibility was poor.
Officer Bishop wrote that he could detect an odor of alcoholic beverage coming from Officer Ventura’s mouth and that his speech was slurred and his eyes appeared to be bloodshot. Officer Bishop said he was not able to conduct field sobriety tests because Officer Ventura was transported to the hospital.
Officer Bishop, along with state police officers, responded to the hospital. Officer Ventura allegedly declined a blood test, and a citation was left with him at the hospital.
A clerk magistrate hearing will be held to determine if there is cause to arraign Officer Ventura on the charges.
West Tisbury police chief Daniel Rossi told the Gazette Saturday that Officer Ventura, who has been with the department for four years, has been placed on paid administrative leave until the Edgartown police department investigation is completed and the final disposition of the court case.
Comments
Respect to William Bishop for
. EdgartownRespect to William Bishop for maintaining his integrity as a civil servant. They better take Ventura's badge away for life. Even if it's not provable that he was drunk, anyone capable of driving off the road and flipping their car with no provocation should not be given the responsibility of protecting the public.
I agree. Kudos to officer
MALI agree. Kudos to officer Bishop
Surprised he was not driven
Bob EdgartownSurprised he was not driven home by the protect your own club.
I'm sure the Sheriffs Dept.
James EdgartownI'm sure the Sheriffs Dept. will hire him!
Sad to hear that people drink
Colin McNutt Truro n.s.Sad to hear that people drink and drive let alone a police officer. I cannot imagine he can continue his career after this. He definitely needs to become an advocate and spokesperson for m.a.d.d.
Time for law enforcement to b
Justice Vineyard havenTime for law enforcement to b held accountable. West Tisbury as many know is the worst @ breaking the law to protect its own.
None of it surprises me at
Sarah West TisburyNone of it surprises me at all - After all what else is there for a cop to do on Island at 7:30 PM on a Thursday?? Especially the part about the paid administrative leave-Our hard earned tax dollars once again at work!
If this incident follows the
John Somewhere-in-the-Middle, USAIf this incident follows the typical "crime by cop" scenario, the cop and his handlers will hustle to see that he goes into a rehab program, claiming that some half-baked stress conditions led to his drinking and any other bad behavior.
He will continue to be paid, because, after all, nothing has been proven, and we must await due process. Once enough time has passed, he will face up to the charges, which will be reduced or pleaded away. The Police Department will, of course, go through the sham of an internal investigation, announce that the officer will be suspended for a brief time without pay. Then, voila!, he will be back, driving the streets and roads, once again.
And, all the while that this process is taking place, his usual shifts will be covered by his fellow officers who will be getting paid overtime wages for those extra shifts.
I would actually love to hear
Steve Oak BluffsI would actually love to hear some examples of "crime by cop" and police "breaking the law to protect their own" that have taken place on this island with the local police. It seems to me that in the very few incidents ever involving a police officer; that individual is both prosecuted the same and afforded the same rights as every other citizen of this country. Lets get real and stop hating on the very people who would willingly go into harms way to help and protect you if you were ever in need.
Well said Steve. Thank you
MALWell said Steve. Thank you
Officer Bishop should be
MarieOfficer Bishop should be commended. I am sure that it is tough to arrest a fellow officer. He did the right think for the town that he serves.
Add new comment