Driver arraigned in deaths of Bridgeport police officer and girlfriend; BAC nearly twice legal limit, warrant says
According to Melissa Ramirez’s arrest warrant, her blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit when her SUV crossed into oncoming traffic and hit Cooper Whiteside’s motorcycle head-on on Sugar Hollow Road in Danbury July 13.
More Stories
A Stamford woman made her first court appearance before a judge Monday, in the deaths of an off-duty Bridgeport police officer and his girlfriend. Melissa Ramirez, 27, is charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter, illegally operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, traveling unreasonably fast and failure to drive in the proper lane in a crash that killed Officer Cooper “Coop” Whiteside, 38, of Danbury, and his girlfriend, Brittany Islami, 34, of New Milford.
According to Ramirez’s arrest warrant, her blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit when her SUV crossed into oncoming traffic and hit Whiteside’s motorcycle head-on on Sugar Hollow Road in Danbury around 2:45 a.m. July 13. Whiteside and Islami were pronounced dead on the scene. Police previously said they were heading southbound and Ramirez was heading northbound when the collision occurred.
On July 24, the same day as Whiteside’s Celebration of Life in Bethel, Ramirez was arrested and held on a $500,000.
“I’m going to ask that the bond remain as set,” said Danbury State’s Attorney Stacey Haupt Miranda during Ramirez’s arraignment at Danbury Superior Court Monday. “As Your Honor did sign the arrest warrant, I know that you're familiar with the facts and there’s no need to lay out the tragic facts here. However, I will indicate for the record that there is a detainer on her from immigration. It is unclear to me exactly for what other than statements.”
Miranda also said Ramirez’s license was suspended indefinitely.
Ramirez's attorney, Daniel Thibideau, told the court he only just learned of his client’s detainer and didn’t know the specifics of why. Thibideau said Ramirez was born in Mexico but has lived her whole life in Connecticut. He also said she has two children, ages 13 and 5, and significant family locally. Thibideau asked the judge to adopt the bail commissioner's bond recommendation of $250,000.
“I believe the family ties to the area could sooth the court's concerns regarding any type of flight risk. She's got several family members here in the audience with her. She lacks any type of criminal record whatsoever,” Thibideau said.
Ramirez’s blood alcohol content was .14, and she tested positive for cannabis, according to her warrant. It said police found an empty bottle of Corona beer, an empty 12 ounce can of Corona beer, and a THC vape cartridge.
"It appeared that the can of Corona beer had spilled during the crash, as there was fresh beer spilled all over the rear passenger area of the Jeep," per the warrant.
Investigators also determined the crash occurred in the leftmost southbound lane of travel. Ramirez was traveling 63 mph seconds before the crash and 56 mph at the time of impact, the warrant said. The speed limit there is 45 mph.
“We look forward to looking at the accident reconstruction and the toxicology reports,” Thibideau stated, acknowledging the charges are “very, very serious” but that Ramirez is presumed innocent.
Judge Sean McGuinness set bond at $300,000 but said it can only be posted once a GPS ankle bracelet is installed and activated. Other non-financial bond conditions of release include turning over all passports and no driving without a proper license and insurance.
Whiteside’s parents, his aunt and a close friend were in the gallery for Ramirez’s arraignment but declined to comment after. Attorney Candace Fay, who represents the Islami family, attended the hearing on their behalf, since Islami’s services are Tuesday. She left behind three young children, who were the center of her world, according to a fundraising effort for the kids.
Ramirez is due back in court Aug. 31.
PRIOR COVERAGE: 'Testament to who he was.' Hundreds of first responders pay their respects at funeral for fallen Bridgeport police officer
Patrol car memorial to fallen Bridgeport officer continues to grow
Tributes pour in for Bridgeport police officer and girlfriend killed in Danbury motorcycle crash
Police: 2 killed in Danbury crash, including Bridgeport police officer
