Drunken-driving charge dropped against former Cranston mayoral candidate who asked police, ‘You know who I am, right?’

Elizabeth Beretta-Perik, chairwoman of the Rhode Island Democratic Party, said she had asked Maria Bucci to step down as chair of the city’s Democratic Committee, acknowledging it is ultimately a decision for the committee.

Maria A. Bucci, 51, a former candidate for mayor of Cranston, R.I., who is now the chairwoman of the city’s Democratic Committee, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence on Dec. 18, according to police.East Greenwich Police Department

PROVIDENCE — A drunken-driving charge filed last month against a former Cranston, R.I., mayoral candidate who is now serving as chairwoman of the city’s Democratic Committee has been dismissed, according to court records.

The misdemeanor criminal charge of driving under the influence against Maria A. Bucci, 51, a former city councilor, was dismissed by the prosecution on Tuesday when Bucci pleaded guilty to refusing to submit to a chemical test, a civil charge, in the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, records show.

Bucci was ordered to complete 20 hours of community service; participate in an alcohol education program; and pay more than $900 in fees and fines, according to court filings.

Bucci will also have her license suspended for 30 days and must install an ignition interlock system on her vehicle for a six-month period following the reinstatement of her license, the filings show.

Daniel Griffin, an attorney representing Bucci, declined to comment on Thursday.

Bucci, who had pleaded not guilty to the criminal charge at her arraignment in Kent County District Court on Monday, said in an emailed statement on Thursday she takes “full responsibility for my actions and am deeply sorry.”

Bucci apologized to her “family, friends, and colleagues for the attention and distraction this caused,” and said she has personally apologized to the chief of East Greenwich police, adding that, “I respect the work of law enforcement and the important role they play in our community.”

“I regret my actions that evening and hope that something positive can come from this experience — encouraging all of us to be mindful and responsible whenever we’re operating a motor vehicle,“ Bucci said. ”This has been a humbling experience. Moving forward, I am committed to acting with greater care, judgment, and respect, and to continuing my work in the community with integrity.”

Bucci was the 2020 Democratic nominee for mayor of Cranston, and narrowly lost a bid for Cranston’s House District 15 state representative in 2024. She currently serves as chairwoman of the city’s Democratic Committee, according to the Rhode Island Democratic Party website.

In a statement on Friday, Elizabeth Beretta-Perik, chairwoman of the Rhode Island Democratic Party, said Bucci’s behavior “towards a police officer was unacceptable and does not reflect the RI Democratic Party’s deep respect for our public safety officials who serve to protect our communities.”

“When this incident occurred I had a conversation with Maria and asked her to step down,” Beretta-Perik said. “However, ultimately the decision as to whether she continues to serve in her current role will be decided by the Cranston Democratic City Committee.”

Bucci did not respond to questions on Thursday and Friday about whether she would resign.

Video of her Dec. 18 arrest in East Greenwich, R.I. — during which Bucci could be heard twice asking an officer, “You know who I am, right?” — circulated online and was picked up by the national news media.

Cranston, R.I., Democratic chair arrested on DUI charge

Maria Bucci, who ran unsuccessfully for Cranston mayor and state representative, was arrested Dec. 18 by the East Greenwich Police Department.

According to police, Bucci was driving a white Lincoln Aviator just after midnight when an officer saw the vehicle swerving on Division Street.

During a traffic stop, police “immediately detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from inside the vehicle,” Officer Anthony St. Laurent wrote in the police report, adding that Bucci’s eyes were “severely bloodshot, glassy, and watery.”

Bucci said she was dropping off her cousin and that the two had been at a Christmas party, according to police. Bucci allegedly said she had a glass of wine.

In body-worn camera video, Bucci tells police they are embarrassing her, and twice asks St. Laurent, “You know who I am, right?”

Bucci can also be heard questioning the officer’s age, and at one point, she says, “I hope I don’t raise a kid like you.”

“Call my husband right now and call the attorney general and everybody else in town,” Bucci yells to her cousin in the video. “This is disgusting. God forbid I was a Black person, I’d be arrested.”

“What are you going to do, shoot me?” she asks St. Laurent.

According to the report, Bucci continued to be “verbally abusive” at police headquarters, calling St. Laurent an “evil [expletive] piece of [expletive],” and saying, “I told my kids if they ever became a cop I’d kill them” and “Only clowns become a cop.”