STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Pedro Abad, the Linden, N.J., police officer and alleged drunken driver, turned himself into authorities on Monday to face charges in a fatal wrong-way crash on the West Shore Expressway on March 20.
He was booked by the NYPD at the 120 Precinct stationhouse, and then arraigned at state Supreme Court in St. George.
Here is live coverage of Monday’s proceedings:
11:30 a.m. — Abad ‘very remorseful,’ lawyer says
Assistant District Attorney Mark Palladino unsealed a 27-count indictment, with a top count of aggravated vehicular homicide, a class B felony punishable by a maximum sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison if convicted.
Click here to read the indictment.
Abad was forced to surrender his license and is not permitted to drive. He must also surrender his passport.
Defense attorney Mario Gallucci described his client as “very remorseful,” in remarks to reporters outside court.
Abad left court in his wheelchair on the side entrance, was helped back into an SUV, and was driven off.
— Reported by Frank Donnelly
11:13 a.m. — Not guilty plea; posts $25K bond
Pedro Abad pleaded not guilty Monday after prosecutors unsealed a 27-count indictment in connection with a fatal wrong-way crash on the West Shore Expressway.
He posted $25,000 bond and is due back in court next on Oct. 29.
Abad said little during the proceeding, only acknowledging lawyer Mario Gallucci was his defense attorney and that he understood he had to return to court next month.
He stood on crutches at the defense table, then sat down for the arraignment.
— Reported by Frank Donnelly
11:05 a.m. — Arraignment begins
The arraignment for Abad has gotten underway, before Supreme Court Justice Mario Mattei.
10:35 a.m. — Suspect arrives at court
After being booked, Abad was taken out the rear entrance of the 120 Police Precinct stationhouse on crutches, and placed into a waiting SUV.
He was accompanied by three NYPD detectives.
After arriving at court, detectives helped Abad out of the back seat and into a wheelchair. He was then wheeled through the side handicap entrance of the court house. He didn’t say anything.
Detectives barked at news photographers to get out of the way as they momentarily blocked the defendant’s path to the entrance.
Defense attorney Mario Gallucci is inside the courtroom.
— Reported by Ryan Lavis and Frank Donnelly.
10:20 a.m. — Abad being booked
Abad remains inside the 120 Precinct stationhouse, nearly two hours after he turned himself into authorities Monday morning. Abad is being fingerprinted and booked by the NYPD, before he’ll be taken to court for arraignment.
About a half dozen news photographers remain positioned outside the stationhouse for his eventual move to court.
— Reported by Steve White
9:27 a.m. — Speculation over injuries
Abad on Monday is facing charges nearly five months to the day of the crash — and during that time, intrigue has been building as to his physical condition after the wreck and whether he’d be healthy enough to actually face charges.
Last week, defense attorney Mario Gallucci told reporters Abad can’t walk, one of his arms doesn’t fully function, and his mental capacity had been diminished.
SILive.com readers reacted to the first photos of Abad since the accident.
“Visually he looks fine,” said user Guest1817. “Guess him being in a vegetable state and missing a limb were lies. Why do his lawyers want to delay the criminal proceedings?”
Said bornandraisedSI: “Damaged so many lives and 6 months later all he has is a foot in a walking boot?”
— Reported by Eddie D’Anna
8:52 a.m. — Waiting for accused cop
Except for a very small group of news photographers and reporters, things are quiet at state Supreme Court in St. George at the moment.
That is expected to change in about an hour or so, once Abad is processed by police officers at the 120 Precinct stationhouse in St. George and brought to court for arraignment.
A large number of media members are expected to descend on the courthouse to cover proceedings later in the day.
— Reported by Jan Somma-Hammel
8:15 a.m. — Surrender at 120
Using crutches to support his body weight and with his right foot in a walking boot, presumably from injuries sustained in the crash, Abad turned himself into authorities at the 120 Police Precinct stationhouse Monday morning.
He was wearing a gray shirt, black pants, and arrived in an SUV accompanied by three women. The SUV pulled up on Wall Street outside the precinct, Abad took several steps on crutches, then sat in a wheelchair and was brought into the rear of the precinct.
— Reported by Steve White
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/09/live_coverage_pedro_abad_alleg.html
Why wasn’t this creature assaulted and treated like a terrorist in like manner as we see every other person treated who “violates” the codes of infringement created by the CORPORATION?
He will skate…and likely be shuttled sideways to another enforcer job..probably with an increase in pay or benefits.
WAKE UP, YOU SHEEPLE!!