Fall River Police Lt. Eduardo M. Raposo - who was arrested Jan. 12 on drunken driving charges in Somerset - is back on duty.
Raposo, 55, has been assigned to be the commander of the Fall River Police Department's Staff Services, which encompasses communications and the record room, said Fall River Police Detective JD Costa.
Raposo's case - which was transferred to New Bedford District Court shortly after his arraignment in Fall River - was disposed on March 26, records show.
On the charge of operating under the influence, Raposo pleaded to sufficient facts, meaning that he does not admit guilt, but rather that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him at trial. His case was continued without a finding until March 25, 2014, meaning that the case will be dropped if he is not arrested on new charges and abides by the term of his probation. He was also ordered to complete an alcohol education program and lost his license for 45 days, according to court documents.
Raposo received the same disposition on charges of leaving the scene of property damage and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, according to court documents.
Raposo, a 25-year member of the police department, was on sick leave due to a “significant illness” at the time of his Jan. 12 arrest, police said.
On Jan. 12, Somerset police said Raposo, who at the time was a patrol Watch Commander, was intoxicated behind the wheel when he rear-ended and side-swiped a vehicle at the intersection of Route 6 and Gardners Neck Road in Swansea. The vehicle’s occupants were not seriously injured, according to court documents.
Swansea Police Officer Richard Gibeau stopped Raposo’s BMW about a half-mile from the accident. Gibeau wrote in his report that Raposo was unresponsive and stared ahead when Gibeau first asked for his driver’s license and registration.
After asking him again for his license, Gibeau said Raposo told him, “You know me.” Gibeau said he then recognized Raposo because they had worked on a case several years prior, according to court records.
According to Gibeau’s report, Raposo slurred his words and said that he had been drinking. Raposo asked Gibeau several times if he could bring him home, and became irate when Gibeau asked him to step out of his vehicle, according to court documents.
“I’m a (expletive) cop. Can’t you give me a ride home?” Raposo asked Gibeau, according to the incident report.
A few minutes later, Gibeau said, he grabbed Raposo’s arm and removed him from the vehicle. Raposo was unsteady on his feet and had to be held by two officers so that he would not fall, court records said.
Gibeau arrested Raposo at the scene, and drove him to the Swansea Police Station for booking. While traveling to the station, Gibeau said, Raposo told him that he had just passed his house, according to court documents.