Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal

« Update: Outage closes CCRI's Warwick campus | Today | Judge wants show-cause hearing on B.I. marina appeal »

January 3, 2008

Judge orders Barrington teen held in Bristol park crash

PROVIDENCE -- A clearly frustrated judge sent a Barrington teenager to the state Training School today until a hearing on Monday, noting the boy is charged with fleeing authorities at Colt State Park before slamming his car into a seawall and pinning a pedestrian.

His arrest is the latest in what is becoming a pattern of alcohol-related incidents involving Barrington teenagers.

Family Court Chief Judge Jeremiah S. Jeremiah Jr. said he believes in sending juveniles to the Training School for up to five days, pending a probable cause hearing, when they are accused of eluding police officers. “I believe in respecting authority,” he said.

The attorney general’s office had recommended placing the teen on “strict home confinement” that would include “Robocuff,” a voice-recognition system which would place calls to his home to ensure he remains there.

But Jeremiah accused state prosecutors of using a “double standard,” saying that a day earlier they had recommended holding another youth at the Training School in a recent unrelated case that did not involve injuries.

William Devine, a lawyer representing the teenager, argued that the boy should not be held at the Training School, saying the teen has no prior record and a supportive family. Also, Devine said the police had released the boy and had not brought him into Family Court on an emergency petition.

But Jeremiah said, “Just because the police department is stupid, doesn’t mean I’m going to be stupid.”

Family Court judges can hold juveniles at the Training School for up to five days if they conclude that they pose a danger to themselves or the community, and Jeremiah concluded this teen posed a danger to the community.

-- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick

PDF: Read a transcript of today’s Family Court proceeding / Editor’s note: The Journal has redacted the defendant’s name because he is a juvenile.

As the boy’s parents looked, the boy was handcuffed behind his back and led from the courtroom.

After the hearing, another lawyer representing the teen, Mark W. Dana, said, “The family remains concerned about the alleged victim’s well-being.”

The 17-year-old, who has not been identified by authorities, is accused of fleeing when a Department of Environmental Management officer approached his car at Colt State Park in Bristol on Saturday, Dec. 30, at about 8:15 p.m., when the park was closed.

The teen drove over the grass and slammed into a seawall along Poppasquash Road, injuring a 51-year-old man who had been walking home, prosecutors said.

The police said the youth, who was alone, failed a field sobriety test. Five full cans of beer and one empty beer can were recovered from the car, along with some marijuana.

The boy is being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol; driving while intoxicated, bodily injury resulting; underage possession of alcohol; possession of marijuana, and driving while in possession of a controlled substance.

Yesterday, Ryan Greenberg, of Barrington, pleaded not guilty to four charges, including second-degree murder, in the boating death of Patrick Murphy on the Barrington River July 17.

His Superior Court arraignment came after a statewide grand jury indicted the 17-year-old, adding the murder charge to previous allegations of operating a boat to endanger, death resulting; underage possession of alcohol; and refusing to take a breath test after he failed a field sobriety test.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:34 PM | Permalink

Comments

Bravo Judge Jeremiah for calling the Bristol Police stupid and for calling out state authorities for using the double standards they use everyday in dealing with issues such as these.

Its about time someone in a position of authority started to speak out and take some action.

Bob | January 3, 2008 5:36 PM link

What does a "supportive family" mean? That they give money to all the right causes?

You can bet your bippy that the kid would have been slapped in cuffs in a heartbeat if he had pulled that stunt in Roger Williams Park, and the whole family would be ripped apart by DCYF.

Another attaboy | January 4, 2008 12:03 AM link

Yes, I agree that it is about time someone finally realized that the Bristol Police Dept is stupid. Didn't they call in the State Police to handle it? Afterall, they are way too busy covering up other wrong doings happening on Poppasquash Road to actually concentrate on any real police work. Any one living in Bristol knows what I am talking about! Free double standards in Bristol folks!!

Happy One | January 4, 2008 9:09 AM link

For those of you who seem to have misread the article. It was the State Police who arrested this Barrington Teen not the Bristol Police. I happen to live in Warren and know that both the Bristol and Warren Police Departments are hard working and dedicated people. Know your facts before you make any statements.

As far as the teen involved goes the Judge is absolutely correct in sending him to the training school. Maybe a little suffering for him and his parents might prevent him from doing this in the future.

Sherry | January 4, 2008 11:34 AM link

January 3, 2008

Judge orders Barrington teen held in Bristol park crash

Comments

Post a comment