County prosecutors are moving forward with DUI charges after blood tests released last Wednesday revealed that Petaluma Police Officer Ryan McGreevy had a 0.11 percent blood-alcohol level at the time of his scooter crash during a department golf tournament last fall. McGreevy previously pleaded not guilty to the DUI charges against him.
McGreevy's blood was drawn at Petaluma Valley Hospital during treatment for a head injury he sustained when he crashed a fellow officer's motor scooter on a fairway of the Rooster Run Golf Course. The results were released to prosecutors and McGreevy's defense attorney on May 1, despite McGreevy's attempts to use privacy laws to block access to his medical records.
According to witnesses, he was seen drinking and behaving in a boisterous manner. At about 2 p.m., witnesses called 911 to report that McGreevy had driven a motor scooter out onto the fairway of the fourth hole and crashed. Petaluma Fire Department and EMS services responded and took McGreevy to Petaluma Valley Hospital. He was later transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for further tests.
Michael Li, McGreevy's defense attorney, said that he will not be seeking a plea bargain for McGreevy at this point, despite the evidence against him. If convicted, McGreevy faces two days in county jail, a $2,400 fine, two years of probation, and a six-month drivers license suspension that can be appealed after 30 days because McGreevy is a first-time offender.
Despite the event being attended by many off-duty officers and department officials, no one performed a sobriety test at the scene or called on-duty officers to report the crash. Petaluma Police Lt. Tim Lyons said the police department is conducting a personnel investigation into the activities at the tournament and will be looking at department policy on alcohol use as part of that. He said that the department will be reviewing how it conducts future events.
McGreevy's next court date is a settlement hearing scheduled for June 4.
(Contact Janelle Wetzstein at janelle.wetzstein@arguscourier.com)
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