POUGHKEEPSIE — Additional court officers were called in to maintain order Tuesday in Dutchess County Court as a Town of Poughkeepsie man was arraigned on felony charges stemming from an alleged drunken-driving crash that killed an e-bike rider earlier this month.
Joseph Marcinelli, 25, was arraigned before Dutchess County Court Judge Jessica Segal on an indictment related to the Sept. 12 crash on Salt Point Turnpike near the Gables subdivision in the Town of Poughkeepsie.
Marcinelli is charged with two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter and felony leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death, along with misdemeanor charges of aggravated driving while intoxicated and driving while intoxicated. The crash killed Jaime Arroyo, 37.
Marcinelli pleaded not guilty to all charges through his attorney, Natasha Turner.
Several members of Arroyo’s family attended the arraignment and expressed their anger during the proceeding, prompting court officers to remove some of them from Segal’s courtroom. Members of Marcinelli’s family sat quietly as they were met with angry glares from others in the gallery.
Prosecutors allege Marcinelli was driving a pickup truck north on Salt Point Turnpike at about 12:30 a.m. Sept. 12 when a Town of Poughkeepsie police officer observed him traveling 68 mph in a 45 mph zone.
The officer made a U-turn near Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery, activated the patrol vehicle’s emergency lights and began pursuing Marcinelli, who allegedly continued to accelerate.
As Marcinelli approached the entrance to the Gables at Vero Drive, prosecutors say his truck struck Arroyo, who was traveling north in the center of the roadway on an e-bike. The impact threw Arroyo from the bike, causing fatal injuries, according to authorities.
Arroyo, who had an address in the Gables, was reportedly operating the e-bike after losing his driver’s license as a result of a DWI conviction.
Police dash-camera footage reportedly shows the pursuing officer driving through debris from the crash while continuing after Marcinelli.
Prosecutors allege Marcinelli did not stop after striking Arroyo and instead continued accelerating, eventually reaching speeds exceeding 100 mph despite damage to the truck’s hood that partially obstructed his view.
Marcinelli then turned onto Edgewood Drive, where he lives, and pulled into his driveway, prosecutors said.
Court documents say that Marcinelli got out of the truck carrying an open bottle of beer as the pursuing officer arrived. Marcinelli allegedly ignored commands to stop and ran toward his house before the officer caught him outside.
A source familiar with the investigation told Mid-Hudson News that before the pursuing officer drove through the crash debris, an unidentified vehicle traveling south passed through the crash scene. Authorities have not identified the vehicle or its driver.
Court records indicate Marcinelli had a blood-alcohol content of approximately 0.19% when the crash occurred, more than twice New York’s legal limit for driving.
Marcinelli was initially arraigned in Town of Poughkeepsie Justice Court, where bail was set at $100,000 cash or $250,000 bond. His mother posted the bail.
At Tuesday’s County Court arraignment, Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Fluck asked Segal to remand Marcinelli to the Dutchess County Jail without bail, arguing that the potential prison sentence he faces if convicted makes him a flight risk.
Segal described the bail previously set in town court as “woefully insufficient” and increased it to $1 million cash, $3 million bond or a $10 million partially secured bond subject to the judge’s approval.
Marcinelli was handcuffed and taken to the Dutchess County Jail following the arraignment.
Tensions continued after the proceeding. Court officers removed members of Arroyo’s family from the courtroom after they applauded and pointed toward Marcinelli’s relatives. Once the courtroom was cleared, Marcinelli’s family was permitted to leave.
The two groups encountered each other again outside the courthouse, where a large contingent of court officers, assisted by a Dutchess County sheriff’s deputy assigned to Market Street, worked to disperse the crowd. Threats were shouted as officers escorted Marcinelli’s family from the area.
Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi called the case “a devastating reminder of the consequences” of drinking and driving.
“We allege that the defendant was driving with a blood-alcohol content of approximately .19% when he struck and killed Jaime Arroyo and then left the scene,” Parisi said. “Jaime lost his life, and his family is left to live with that loss.”
Parisi said his office would continue prosecuting people accused of driving while intoxicated and endangering others.
Marcinelli is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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