Trial to begin in September for Lynn cop charged with assault

SALEM – A fall trial date has been set for Lynn police officer Geovanni Ruano, who faces charges after a road-rage incident in which he allegedly physically and verbally assaulted a city man last summer.Attorneys in the case asked Judge John T. Lu Monday in Salem Superior Court to schedule the three-to-four-day expected trial for Sept. 12.Ruano, 46, of 15 Osborne St., Lynn, is a 13-year police department member on unpaid administrative leave, facing charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery and witness intimidation. He has pleaded innocent.The charges arise out of an incident July 31 on Atlantic Terrace and Ocean Avenue when Ruano, who was driving a 2003 Chevy Tahoe, allegedly followed the then 24-year-old victim, Richard Zelandi, down Nahant Street flashing his headlights between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.Zelandi reported to authorities that he then took a left in his BMW convertible onto Atlantic Terrace, where he pulled his vehicle over.Ruano also pulled his Chevy over, got out, identified himself as a Lynn police officer and reportedly threatened Zelandi.Zelandi, being unsure if Ruano was actually a police officer, asked to see his badge. They then both agreed to walk over to the Chevy where Ruano allegedly tossed Zelandi onto the hood of his truck.Zelandi said he then began walking back to his car and Ruano jumped back into his truck, put it into drive and struck Zelandi, who grabbed hold of the truck’s hood as Ruano continued to drive. Zelandi told police Ruano at one point slammed on his brakes and he bounced off onto a parked car, suffering neck and back injuries. Ruano then sped away.Zelandi, now 25, was treated at Lynn Union Hospital for his injuries and gave a statement to police.The following day, Ruano and his girlfriend, Catherine Foley, 32, went to the victim’s apartment on Ocean Avenue and reportedly made “implied promises” to Zelandi in which they tried to encourage him “not” to make the incident from the night before a “court matter.”Foley, charged with witness intimidation, is also scheduled to go on trial at the same time with Ruano.They currently remain free pending the outcome of their case.