SALEM – Prosecutors in the road rage case against Lynn police officer Geovanni Ruano filed details about their case Thursday in Salem Superior Court.Assistant District Attorney Maureen Wilson-Leal filed what is referred to as a bill of particulars in the case in which prosecutors contends that Ruano “verbally and physically assaulted” the then-24-year-old victim, Richard Zelandi, by striking him in the upper arm with his shoulder during the evening of the road rage incident that occurred on Atlantic Terrace and Ocean Avenue on July 31.Police said Ruano, who is a 13-year police department member, was operating a 2003 Chevy Tahoe and followed Zelandi down Nahant Street flashing his headlights between 10:30 p.m., and 11 p.m., on July 31.Zelandi told police he then took a left in his BMW convertible onto Atlantic Terrace, where he pulled his vehicle over. Police accounts indicated Ruano stopped his truck, got out, and identified himself as a Lynn police officer while apparently speaking to Zelandi in a threatening manner.Zelandi, being unsure if Ruano was an officer, asked to see his badge. They both apparently agreed to walk over to the Tahoe where Ruano allegedly threw the victim onto the hood of his truck.Zelandi began walking back to his car and Ruano jumped back into his truck, put it into drive and struck Zelandi at slow speed, according to police.Zelandi reportedly grabbed hold on the truck?s hood as Ruano continued to drive. Then Ruano slammed on his brakes and Zelandi bounced off onto a parked car and suffered neck and back injuries, before Ruano sped away from the scene.The preliminary trial brief filed by the prosecutor also states that after the incident Zelandi, now 25, of Lynn, was treated at Union Hospital for his injuries and gave a statement to police.In addition, prosecutors state that the next day, Ruano and his girlfriend, Catherine Foley, 32, went to the victim?s apartment on Ocean Avenue, and apparently made “implied promises” to Zelandi in which they tried to encourage him to “not” make the incident from the night before a “court matter.”Jason Delossantos, 24, of Revere, witnessed the meeting, the prosecutor says.The document was filed at the joint request of defense lawyer Thomas Drechsler and Neil Rossman, the attorney for Foley, who was also indicted for witness intimidation in connection with the case.Ruano, 46, of 15 Osborne St., Lynn, pleaded not guilty to assault and battery and witness intimidation in September in connection with some of the incidents.He was indicted earlier this week on a new charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a car,) concerning the incident. He pleaded not guilty to the charge Thursday before Judge Timothy Q. Feeley.The new indictment infers that Ruano struck Zelandi with his 2003 Chevy Tahoe.The alleged incident has left Ruano stripped of his police powers and he was placed on unpaid administrative leave in August.He and Foley, who remain free, pending the outcome of their case, are due back in court on Feb. 1.
