Drunk Driver Gets 7 Years in Crash That Severely Injured Nassau Cop Convicted of All Charges

Griffin was convicted of Assault after crashing into parked police officer on LIE

MINEOLA, NY - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that Rahiem Griffin has been sentenced to seven years in prison by a Nassau County judge after he was convicted by a jury of crashing his car, while drunk, into the parked police vehicle of Nassau Police Officer Ken Baribault. The crash left the officer permanently and severely injured in May 2008.

Griffin, 28, of Shirley, was convicted of Assault in the Second Degree, Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree, Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, two counts of Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Operating Without a License, and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree on June 12. Seven years was the maximum sentence allowed by law.

Rice said that in the early morning of May 18, 2008, Officer Baribault was parked on the eastbound shoulder of the Long Island Expressway in Plainview after pulling over a suspected drunken driver. As he sat in his police car, he was slammed into from behind by Griffin’s silver Mercedes-Benz, critically injuring him and leaving him, at the time, fighting for his life. Officer Baribault suffered permanent brain damage and partial paralysis.

Further investigation revealed that an orange juice container in Griffin’s vehicle contained a significant amount of alcohol. Griffin’s blood-alcohol content at the time of the crash was .13.

 “We must all collectively raise our voices and scream ‘Enough is enough’ when it comes to drunk driving,” Rice said. “Lives are being ruined, families destroyed, and as a society we still have not been able to put an end to this epidemic. If a police officer on the street protecting us can fall victim to a drunk driver, it can happen to anyone.”

Handling the case for the District Attorney's Office is Assistant District Attorney and Chief of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau Maureen McCormick and ADA Melissa Lewis of the County Court Trial Bureau. The defendant is represented by Gerard Brogdon, Esq.