Ambulance volunteer has license suspended after DWI charge
Ambulance volunteer has license suspended after DWI charge
SLEEPY HOLLOW - A member of the Sleepy Hollow Ambulance Corps accused of driving drunk and crashing an emergency vehicle last week appeared in court yesterday, and his license was suspended.
Arron Rodriguez, 24, did not enter a plea.
Rodriguez had been drinking at the ambulance corps headquarters before he took the "fly car" - a vehicle stocked with emergency medical equipment and supplies - without permission shortly before 6 a.m. Jan. 20, authorities said. He struck a tree on Sleepy Hollow Road minutes later.
Rodriguez, of 272 Spring St., Ossining, then returned the vehicle to headquarters and left. Police administered a breath test at their headquarters and said his blood-alcohol content was 0.19 percent, more than twice the legal limit.
He was charged with driving while intoxicated, unauthorized use of a vehicle and criminal mischief, misdemeanors; and damage to village property, a violation.
Rodriguez has been suspended from the volunteer department.
Village Justice Alphonse Naclerio set Feb. 9 as his next court date.
Mayor Phil Zegarelli, who has asked for a full investigation by the police chief, is questioning why it happened, wants the screening process for potential members re-examined and wants strict rules against having access to official cars after consuming alcohol.
The incident has also sparked a dispute between the mayor and the head of the ambulance corps, Capt. James Hayes. On Thursday, when Hayes denied a television news cameraman access to the crashed vehicle, the mayor had the head of the Public Works Department let that person inside.
Hayes was videotaped cursing at the mayor and announcing he quit. He later confronted the mayor at Village Hall and did the same, Zegarelli said. The mayor said he accepted the resignation, then was later told by Hayes that he didn't quit.
"I've been cursed out by a lot of people," Zegarelli said. "The emotion on his part may have been over the top, but that doesn't mean we don't sit down and fix things. I'm going to bring this matter to the board and let them decide."
Hayes was outside court yesterday, and said he hadn't quit.