Providence, RI officer indicted for sexual assault and drug possession
Michael Zarlenga
8/24/99
Providence officer indicted for alleged assault on girl, 17
Patrolman Taft Manzotti is accused of sexually assaulting the
alleged victim after the police were called to a rowdy party in
May.
By MARIA MIRO JOHNSON Journal Staff Writer
PROVIDENCE -- A Providence police patrolman was indicted
yesterday on charges that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old
girl in May.
Officer Taft Manzotti, 47, a 20-year veteran of the force and a
long-time police union official, faces charges of first- and
second-degree sexual assault and possession of marijuana.
In what his lawyer described as routine practice, Manzotti has
not been arrested but will present himself voluntarily at his
arraignment, scheduled for Sept. 17 in Superior Court.
The lawyer, Joseph F. Penza Jr., said he has advised Manzotti not
to discuss the case and that his client denies all the
allegations.
Manzotti has been off duty since May, using vacation and sick
time, according to his wife, Gail.
Yesterday's indictment by the Statewide Grand Jury stems from a
complaint that on May 7, while Manzotti was alone on patrol duty
in the Elmhurst section of the city, he sexually assaulted a
young woman.
Only sketchy details of what allegedly happened that night have
been released by department officials, who cite the Law
Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights.
At the time, Maj. Richard T. Sullivan, of the department's
internal affairs bureau, said the accused officer -- whom he
would not name -- was on patrol duty, alone, when the police were
twice called to quell a rowdy party on Pembroke Avenue.
It was unclear how many officers responded or whether the accused
was among them, he said.
At 1:30 a.m., the police were called to the house again, and the
girl told them that an officer had assaulted her, Sullivan said
at the time.
According to people at the house, who were interviewed by The
Journal in May, the alleged victim arrived there hysterical, ran
up the stairs into a bedroom crowded with partygoers and began
kicking furniture, prompting a friend to call 911.
She was examined at Women & Infants Hospital, where she
reportedly told medical personnel she had been sexually assaulted
by a police officer. She filed a written complaint on May 13.
ASKED YESTERDAY about the indictment, Inspector Sullivan would
not comment yesterday about Manzotti specifically, but said that
any officer who had been indicted on such charges would be
suspended without pay.
``If in fact this is a police officer and it's a felony
indictment, it's very serious,'' he said.
Asked if sexual assault charges had ever been leveled against an
officer in the past, Sullivan, a 23-year veteran, said he didn't
know, although ``we have had officers that have been indicted
before.''
...
--
-- Mike Zarlenga
Gun Control is OSHA for criminals.
Mr. Rhode Island
are against a police officer. This man has served our community and is
entitled to a fair trial. Which I hope he is able to receive.
RichaRD
Michael Zarlenga <zarl...@conan.ids.net> wrote in message
news:EbDw3.17997$a4.7...@typ12.nn.bcandid.com...
Tony Pelliccio
zarl...@conan.ids.net says...
> From http://www.projo.com/
>
> 8/24/99
>
> Providence officer indicted for alleged assault on girl, 17
>
> Patrolman Taft Manzotti is accused of sexually assaulting the
> alleged victim after the police were called to a rowdy party in
> May.
>
> By MARIA MIRO JOHNSON Journal Staff Writer
>
> PROVIDENCE -- A Providence police patrolman was indicted
> yesterday on charges that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old
> girl in May.
>
> Officer Taft Manzotti, 47, a 20-year veteran of the force and a
> long-time police union official, faces charges of first- and
> second-degree sexual assault and possession of marijuana.
I actually know Taft from the late 70's into the 80's. He was a good
officer and I can't believe that he actually raped the girl as she
claims. However, I do know Taft to be one who wouldn't pass up an
opportunity so is it a question of regrets on the girl's part? I think
so.
--
== Tony Pelliccio, KD1S formerly KD1NR
== Trustee WE1RD
Bob Ficoturo
Michael Zarlenga wrote:
> In alt.rhode_island Tony Pelliccio <nospam....@nospam.home.com> wrote:
> : officer and I can't believe that he actually raped the girl as she
> : claims. However, I do know Taft to be one who wouldn't pass up an
> : opportunity so is it a question of regrets on the girl's part? I think
> : so.
>
> How do you explain the drugs?
Are you saying that you believe the cop did this dastardly deed? Will you
show me where the news article you posted claims that he is guilty? Nowhere
does the paper make that claim. They are merely reporting what has been
asserted by others. Does that sound familiar to you Spike?
--
Bob F.
Vegetarians eat vegetables.
Beware of humanitarians!
Propp
>
> How do you explain the drugs?
> Gun Control is OSHA for criminals.
It's no(or is it?) secret that police officers often 'gain access' to
illegal substances...it's the currency of the street. Do you think cops can
afford to shell out twenties like Barretta, every time a neighborhood
crackhead snitch, does them right?
Michael Zarlenga
: officer and I can't believe that he actually raped the girl as she
: claims. However, I do know Taft to be one who wouldn't pass up an
: opportunity so is it a question of regrets on the girl's part? I think
: so.
How do you explain the drugs?
Aimless Wanderer
Whatever happened to "Innocent until Proven Guilty"???? Seems to be the
opposite these days.....
(btw... like the quote, Bob, he he)
~Aimless Wanderer
Bob Ficoturo wrote:
> Hi Michael
>
> Michael Zarlenga wrote:
>
> > In alt.rhode_island Tony Pelliccio <nospam....@nospam.home.com> wrote:
> > : officer and I can't believe that he actually raped the girl as she
> > : claims. However, I do know Taft to be one who wouldn't pass up an
> > : opportunity so is it a question of regrets on the girl's part? I think
> > : so.
> >
> > How do you explain the drugs?
>
Michael Zarlenga
:> : officer and I can't believe that he actually raped the girl as she
:> : claims. However, I do know Taft to be one who wouldn't pass up an
:> : opportunity so is it a question of regrets on the girl's part? I think
:> : so.
:>
:> How do you explain the drugs?
: Are you saying that you believe the cop did this dastardly deed?
I don't know if he did or didn't.
I'm asking Tony how he would explain the drugs.
: Will you
: show me where the news article you posted claims that he is guilty? Nowhere
: does the paper make that claim. They are merely reporting what has been
: asserted by others. Does that sound familiar to you Spike?
Had I claimed that his guilt was reported, I would have been lying,
Robert, just as you were in aother thread.
But, unlike you, I made no such claim.
I value my credibility enough not to lie about what was reported
and what wasn't. Maybe you should consider a similar philosophy.
Ruger45
Michael Zarlenga wrote:
>
> In alt.rhode_island Tony Pelliccio <nospam....@nospam.home.com> wrote:
> : officer and I can't believe that he actually raped the girl as she
> : claims. However, I do know Taft to be one who wouldn't pass up an
> : opportunity so is it a question of regrets on the girl's part? I think
> : so.
>
> How do you explain the drugs?
>
> --
> -- Mike Zarlenga
>
You have finally answered the age old question Mike, drugs make you go
out and commit crimes. You have shown the connection, my hat is off to
you.
HMG
Bob Ficoturo
Michael Zarlenga wrote:
> I value my credibility enough not to lie about what was reported
> and what wasn't. Maybe you should consider a similar philosophy.
More argumentum ad hominem. You just can't help yourself Michael. If you valued
your credibility as you claim to, then perhaps you'd respond to my other
messages. That would be respond... not attack.
Huggy Bear
from a underage girl...duhhh...he's a deckhand nothing more, nothing
less....
would you say the same where it your daughter ?
Damn..it's amazing how cops here will stand beside a cop such as this...and
make up excuses no less...amazing.
Tony Pelliccio <nospam....@nospam.home.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.122ce464790abaf5989781@news...
> In article <EbDw3.17997$a4.7...@typ12.nn.bcandid.com>,
> zarl...@conan.ids.net says...
> > From http://www.projo.com/
> >
> > 8/24/99
> >
> > Providence officer indicted for alleged assault on girl, 17
> >
> > Patrolman Taft Manzotti is accused of sexually assaulting the
> > alleged victim after the police were called to a rowdy party in
> > May.
> >
> > By MARIA MIRO JOHNSON Journal Staff Writer
> >
> > PROVIDENCE -- A Providence police patrolman was indicted
> > yesterday on charges that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old
> > girl in May.
> >
> > Officer Taft Manzotti, 47, a 20-year veteran of the force and a
> > long-time police union official, faces charges of first- and
> > second-degree sexual assault and possession of marijuana.
>
> I actually know Taft from the late 70's into the 80's. He was a good
> officer and I can't believe that he actually raped the girl as she
> claims. However, I do know Taft to be one who wouldn't pass up an
> opportunity so is it a question of regrets on the girl's part? I think
> so.
>
Huggy Bear
> In what his lawyer described as routine practice, Manzotti has
> not been arrested but will present himself voluntarily at his
> arraignment, scheduled for Sept. 17 in Superior Court.
now, question, where that you or I that had been charged, do you think we'd
be allowed to "present [ourselves] voluntarily " or arrested ?
Looks to me as if he is al;ready getting the benefits of being a police
officer that has served his community...if true thought, I hope he
hangs..but my guess is he'll get off easier than if the same girl had been
found with a 5.00 crack rock....
Mr. Rhode Island <rpk...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:7pv624$719$1...@nntp1.atl.mindspring.net...
> I don't think we should rush to judgement simply because the
accusations
> are against a police officer. This man has served our community and is
> entitled to a fair trial. Which I hope he is able to receive.
>
> RichaRD
> Michael Zarlenga <zarl...@conan.ids.net> wrote in message
> news:EbDw3.17997$a4.7...@typ12.nn.bcandid.com...
> > From http://www.projo.com/
> >
> > 8/24/99
> >
> > Providence officer indicted for alleged assault on girl, 17
> >
> > Patrolman Taft Manzotti is accused of sexually assaulting the
> > alleged victim after the police were called to a rowdy party in
> > May.
> >
> > By MARIA MIRO JOHNSON Journal Staff Writer
> >
> > PROVIDENCE -- A Providence police patrolman was indicted
> > yesterday on charges that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old
> > girl in May.
> >
> > Officer Taft Manzotti, 47, a 20-year veteran of the force and a
> > long-time police union official, faces charges of first- and
> > second-degree sexual assault and possession of marijuana.
> >
Huggy Bear
Propp <pr...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:7pvol5$g8g$1...@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net...
>
> >
> > How do you explain the drugs?
> > Gun Control is OSHA for criminals.
>
> illegal substances...it's the currency of the street. Do you think cops
can
> afford to shell out twenties like Barretta, every time a neighborhood
> crackhead snitch, does them right?
>
>
gain access yes, use for bribes? No.
Bo :-')
line, e.g.: sports or military. However, down deep, most are still
sleezeballs. Most of the crimes they commit go unfound as they are covered
up by their peers.
EV-34
spread in order for someone to get something. Many of the times the officer
isn't to blame at all. People usually pick us because we are in the public
eye and are "easy targets". I'm not saying that this officer is not guilty,
that is for a court to decide. I'm just saying that shit like this happens
all too often and many times ruins a good officer's career.
EV-34
they are usually the ones that scream the loudest when they are faced with a
problem!!
Ruger45
Yep, you said it EV. The interesting thing is these posters tell more
about themselves than the cops they wish to bash.
HMG
Tony Pelliccio
> even if "regrets on the girls part" he should have know enough to stay away
> from a underage girl...duhhh...he's a deckhand nothing more, nothing
> less....
>
> would you say the same where it your daughter ?
>
> Damn..it's amazing how cops here will stand beside a cop such as this...and
> make up excuses no less...amazing.
You're making a very big assumption here. I am in no way affiliated with
any law enforcement agency - I knew Taft on a personal basis.
In any case, how many times have you asked a girl to prove her age to
you?
Had she been my daughter, with my knowledge of Manzotti I'd have a hard
time pointing a finger of blame. As to the question of the drugs I can't
answer on that one.
Tony
Huggy Bear
EV-34 <bkta...@indiana.edu> wrote in message
news:7q2eb9$ibi$1...@flotsam.uits.indiana.edu...
> You gotta love this country, people like this always bashing the cops and
> they are usually the ones that scream the loudest when they are faced with
a
> problem!!
>
really ? Problems such as cops raping a teen age girl ?
>
flanagn1
in front of her friends so she thought up this false accusation. Why would
anyone want to screw up their long honorable career for some as@? What
proof does she have? Why didn't she scream? Where are the people that were
at the party during this assault? I am sure Taft can account for his where
abouts during the call, and I can guarantee the other cops on scene would
have been there. A cop NEVER goes into a situation like a party without
plenty of back-up. That would be suicide. Yes there are bad cops out there
that is an unfortunate fact of life, however, it is hard to do the things
this girl says happened, on duty the way she claims. As far as the people
wondering how he was able to appear in court on his own free will, it is
called R.O.R. or Released on Own Recognizance. He is under investigation,
he wasn't charged the investigators must build enough evidence to charge
him. It would happen to you or me or anyone else.
Michael Zarlenga
: I think that Taft is a scapegoat. She was busted and probably embarrassed
: in front of her friends so she thought up this false accusation. Why would
1. She wasn't busted.
2. How do you explain the drugs?
fredd...@my-deja.com
"flanagn1" <flan...@email.msn.com> wrote:
> As far as the people
> wondering how he was able to appear in court on his own free will, it
is
> called R.O.R. or Released on Own Recognizance. He is under
investigation,
> he wasn't charged the investigators must build enough evidence to
charge
> him. It would happen to you or me or anyone else.
yeah right, mrs. hornoff. a couple of weeks ago a scoutmaster was
ACCUSED of sexual assault on a teenager with no other evidence than the
teenager's word. that scoutmaster is today locked up in the ACI with
no indictment returned. now you wonder why so many people have come to
realize that COPS ARE SCUM.
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