File photo
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
A recently-resigned Bucks County Sheriff’s Office sergeant has been charged with driving under the influence in Newtown Township.
The charges filed – two first-degree misdemeanor counts of DUI and a summary offense of driving with an open container of alcohol – against Joseph F. Rafferty III, 45, of Warwick, Monday afternoon come after a county and township investigation into the incident.
The Doylestown Intelligencer broke the story about the incident several weeks ago and reported recently that Newtown Township police Chief Henry Pasqualini conducted an internal investigation and Sgt. Stephen J. Meyers, Cpl. Shawn Pirog and officers Patrick Hardy and Shane VanDerMark were reprimanded for “procedural and policy deficiencies” in relation to their handling of the incident. None of the officer’s were relieved of their jobs.
According to court papers released by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, Rafferty was pulled over by Newtown Township officers on Stoopville Road and Hemlock Drive on the morning of August 13 in a Chevrolet Impala, which the newspaper reported was owned by the county.
“A 911 call received minutes earlier had reported that the 2007 Chevrolet Impala driven by Rafferty had been seen “swerving all over the roadway” on Stoopville Road,” a statement from the district attorney’s office said.
Rafferty was on the ground near the front of the vehicle when an officer pulled up. The off-duty county lawman got up and walked in an uneven manner toward Hardy, the first officer on the scene. Hardy noted that Rafferty’s words were slurred and delayed and that his eyes were glassy and glazed over, court papers filed by Lt. Robert Matthews stated.
Hardy asked Rafferty why he was driving impaired. The Warwick resident replied back that he was driving his three children home, police said.
“Investigation revealed that Mr. Rafferty had been driving erratically with his three minor children in the vehicle just prior to his contact with Newtown Township police,” the affidavit of probable cause states.
VanDerMark, the backup officer on the call, noted that Rafferty was unable to keep his balance and had slurred speech.
A bottle of pineapple vodka was found on the front floorboard of the car, police said.
Rafferty told officers that he was taking prescription medications for a back problem but his condition at the time was due to “the drinking,” police said.
Officers at first drove Rafferty from the scene and the Impala was towed to a local shop, authorities said. No charges were filed at the time.
County spokesman Chris Edwards and various police sources confirmed to LevittownNow.com that Rafferty submitted paperwork to resign from the sheriff’s office once news of the investigation began to leak out. His separation from the county became official in early October.
Pasqualini told NewtownPANow.com in early October that charges against Rafferty would not be filed because that “ship had sailed,” but circumstances changed a few days later.
District Attorney Matt Weintraub said “Pasqualini made the determination that Rafferty should be charged based upon probable cause that he was DUI.” The district attorney reported Pasqualini consulted him on it and they agreed on the charges.
The charges were filed in District Judge Mick Petrucci’s court in Newtown Borough.
