Cops: Threats by senator with Ruggerio

BARRINGTON, R.I. (WPRI) - State Sen. Frank Ciccone III allegedly threatened a Barrington police officer early Wednesday morning as he prepared to arrest Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio for drunk driving, according to a police report released Friday afternoon.

"You think you got pension problems now?" Ciccone, 64, reportedly told Police Officer Michael Gregorzek as his fellow officer Walter Larson administered sobriety tests to Ruggerio, 63, according to the police report. "Wait 'til this [expletive] is all done. This guy voted against you the last time, it ain't gonna get any better now."

Ciccone, D-Providence, was one of two senators who voted against the landmark pension overhaul enacted in November. Ruggerio, D-North Providence, was a co-sponsor of the legislation, which included changes to police and fire retirees' benefits for those enrolled in the state-run system. Both men work for the powerful Laborers International Union of North America.

In a statement, Ciccone declined to address the details of the report. "While the Barrington Police were at all times courteous and professional, I do not agree with the accuracy of some of the details in the report," he said. "However, I certainly regret anything I may have said Tuesday evening that was inappropriate."

Ciccone added: "Since I may be a witness in this case I will be unable to comment any further while the case is pending." Reached by phone, the senator declined to say anything more. Ruggerio and Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed did not issue new statements regarding Ciccone's alleged comments.

Ruggerio, one of the most powerful politicians in Rhode Island, was arrested just after midnight Wednesday for driving while under the influence and refusing to take a Breathalyzer test. Police said the arrest was prompted by a 911 call at 12:09 a.m. about an erratic driver on Wampanoag Trail near Vitullo Farm.

Ruggerio, who is scheduled to be arraigned in District Court next week, said Wednesday, "I accept full responsibility for my actions." Police said Ciccone, who was not charged, was in a second car following behind the black Buick sedan Ruggerio was driving until the police pulled him over. They said they were on their way to a woman's house after attending an event in Providence, police said.

Gregorzek said Ciccone "came walking down the road and stopped to speak with us" after the two officers stopped Ruggerio's car on Richmond Avenue. As Ruggerio took sobriety tests, Ciccone "recommended we call 'John' meaning [Barrington Police] Chief LaCross to let him know about the situation that had developed," Gregorzek wrote.

"Ciccone was calling numbers from his cell phone trying to contact the major of the State Police and every other person he could think of to deal with 'the problem,'" Gregorzek continued. The supplemental report does not make any further mention of Ciccone.

Ruggerio's arrest report was released on Wednesday morning, but the supplemental report that describes Ciccone's behavior was not released until late Friday.

Ciccone, who represents Senate District 7 and is chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Oversight, was first elected in 2002. He had $14,877 in his campaign war chest as of Dec. 31.

Ted Nesi ( tnesi@wpri.com ) covers politics and the economy for WPRI.com and writes the Nesi's Notes blog. Follow him on Twitter: @tednesi

Marilyn Schairer contributed to this report.