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NY fire department official arrested for DWI and cocaine possession

Jul 27 2018

NY fire department official arrested for DWI and cocaine possession

A New York City Fire Department (FDNY) pension official was arrested for DWI and criminal possession of a controlled substance after he lost control of his vehicle in Midtown Manhattan. Steve Cassidy, 62, was driving a Toyota Prius when he allegedly jumped a sidewalk and crashed the vehicle into a dumpster. According to witnesses, the FDNY car nearly struck two pedestrians.

A 19-year-old witness said, “He was sitting on the driver’s side of the car, mumbling to someone. He seemed very out of it; he didn’t seem to know what was going on.” He added that Cassidy appeared to be incoherent and unsteady on his feet.

Passersby prevented Cassidy from fleeing the scene until the police arrived. The witness captured the aftermath of the collision on a cellphone video. Cassidy was fired from his position as FDNY pension fund executive director following the arrest.

Police initially charged Cassidy with cocaine possession as they found a yellow envelope containing a cocaine-like white powder inside his wallet. The charge was dismissed after tests showed the substance was not a drug. However, Cassidy was hit with a new charge of aggravated DWI. His toxicology reports showed he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.3 percent, which is nearly four times the legal limit of 0.08.

Both DWI and drug possession charges carry serious penalties in New York. If you are facing such accusations, contact the experienced defense attorneys at Brill Legal Group.