Body cam catches elite federal prosecutor offering his Justice Department card in DUI crash arrest

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JOSHUA GOODMAN and JIM MUSTIAN
Updated 3:13 PM CDT, September 8, 2023

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — When police arrived at his house to investigate a hit-and-run, Joseph Ruddy, one of the nation’s most prolific federal narcotics prosecutors, looked so drunk he could barely stand up straight, leaning on the tailgate of his pickup to keep his balance.

But he apparently was under control enough to be waiting with his U.S. Justice Department business card in hand.

“What are you trying to hand me?” an officer asked. “You realize when they pull my body-worn camera footage and they see this, this is going to go really bad.”

That footage obtained by The Associated Press showed Ruddy apparently attempting to leverage his position to blunt the fallout from a Fourth of July crash in which he is accused of drunkenly striking another vehicle and leaving the scene.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/drugs-alcohol-cocaine-smuggling-justice-maritime-bb69c4cb97561e7c6f9c0352681a382a

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FULL story and video at link.

[enough]

1. Lock him up

[republianmushroom]

9. agree

[Jimvanhise]

2. TWO MONTHS?

They waited two months to relieve him of duty? How often does he get this drunk? He is clearly an alcoholic and has no business being in a position of responsibility.

[irisblue]

7. Some of us alcoholics *are* functional in work hours

I was.

[orangecrush]

15. Same here

[irisblue]

16. .

Also I will not drink with you today

[orangecrush]

17. One day

At a time.

[Kaleva]

13. How is he clearly an acholic?

Alcoholism is a recognized illness. Are you trying to give him an out?

[FakeNoose]

3. In this case the cop did the right thing

The prosecutor should have known better.

[multigraincracker]

4. Body cams, phone cameras and CCTV

are helping make cops honest. But still asking for a professional courtesy is corruption.

[twodogsbarking]

5. Drunk driving but not charged with leaving the scene of an accident.

Professional courtesty?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

6. The effects of alcohol on some truly saddens me.

Addiction is a terrible mistress.

[JohnnyRingo]

8. One point for body cams.

The old days of back scratching is over.

[Warpy]

10. So he prosecutes people for using any drug except his own

drug of choice.

Fortunately, we have an administration that will take a very dim view of this one.

[Old Crank]

11. Mandatory jail until trial

For hit and run. Proven flight risk.
Most hit and run are probably drunk drivers trying to avoid the dui.
These people usually get let off the hand r because they showed remorse
If they turn themselves in when they sober up.

[flying_wahini]

12. I don't care if he discovered electricity or cured the common cold.

If he is guilty LOCK his ass up before he kills somebody.

[yagotme]

18. Exactly. nt

[winstars]

14. He might be a Fed. He might be a Narc. But in the end he's just another FLORIDA MAN