Brother "Sure" Alleged DWI Cop Has Driven Drunk Before

Early yesterday morning, off-duty police officer Raphael Ospina was charged with driving while intoxicated and vehicular assault after crashing his car into a private sanitation truck and then into Tiffany's on West 57th and Fifth Avenue. When asked whether Ospina had driven drunk before, his 19-year-old brother helpfully said, "I'm sure he has. He must have. I don't know for a fact." With a brother like this, who needs a keeper?

The impact of the crash left Ospina's Chrysler 300 a wreck; he and his two passengers had to be cut out of the car before being taken to Bellevue for treatment. According to the Post, "Ospina, who joined the force in 2004, was so out of it that he told detectives that the year was 2009 and George W. Bush was still president, sources said."

The cop's brother Daniel added, "Yeah, he likes to live life. He's the type of guy everyone likes to be around. He likes to get people in a great mood," and "I have to stick up for him, he's my brother. Everyone makes mistakes. Nobody's perfect." Ospina was suspended without pay for 30 days.

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By Jen Chung in News on February 14, 2010 2:07 PM

Comments [rss]

Guest

"Ospina was suspended without pay for 30 days.

The most shocking part of this story may be he was suspended without pay.

justthinkin

"He like to live life". Apparently by dancing with death. The man needs help.

Ishtar

Who were the two idiots that got into the car with him?

Doctor Memory

I don't get it. There is no more perfect city in the entire western hemisphere to get your drink on than Manhattan. You can stumble from one bar to the next, and when you're done for the night you can hail a cab or if you're broke grab a subway or bus, even at 3am. Your transportation needs are completely attended to. Why the hell would you bring your car?

handsomedevil

I think the cop DWI phenomenon can be chalked up to

1) They use cars at work, all day long.

2) They often live deep in the outer boroughs or even out of the city. Getting to/from via transit might be quite a slog or impossible.

3) They think they understand how shit works - they can "handle" driving under the influence.

4) Since they never take cabs, getting a car service all the way home (for like $50) seems incredibly expensive to them. And they'd have to get back the next day!

But, you are right - that should be the message from the dept on a regular basis - "get a car service, assholes."

Reflect

The life of the party is usually the most lifeless...

look at me weeee. Im a bag of success and your in it! Yay!

Just because your good at denying reality and good at engaging in light wittty banter. doesn't mean u of any good use to humanity as a whole.