Police release bodycam footage from day after Bryant basketball coach’s alleged hit-and-run

NORTH SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WLNE) — The North Smithfield Department released body-worn camera footage Thursday of an officer speaking with Bryant University head basketball coach Jared Grasso after an alleged hit-and-run crash.

The video shows an officer speaking with Grasso at his house the day after he allegedly hit a car on the way home from Blackie’s restaurant.

The alleged hit-and-run happened around 8 a.m. on Oct. 1 on West Acres Interchange at Route 146.

The driver of a car that was stuck told police she was driving in the right lane on Route 146 when another car sped past her on the left. She claimed she was sideswiped and the car took off.

A North Smithfield police officer speaks with Bryant University head basketball coach Jared Grasso the day after he allegedly sideswiped a car and took off. (North Smithfield police)

She told police her daughter and infant grandchild were also in the car.

The video shows the officer and Grasso walking to a white SUV in the driveway. The officer pointed out damage along the passenger side of the vehicle.

Grasso claimed that someone hit his car while he was inside the restaurant, and that he made a complaint for the establishment to check any surveillance footage. Grasso noted that he didn’t want to speak about the matter further without his lawyer.

“That’s weird, because we had a hit-and-run on 146, and they got your plates specifically,” the officer said.

Bryant University head basketball coach Jared Grasso gestures to passenger side damage on his white SUV after an alleged hit-and-run crash. (North Smithfield police)

The officer let Grasso know that the department had a warrant out for his arrest.

“You have a warrant out for my arrest?” Grasso asked.

“That’s correct,” the officer said.

“For what exactly?” Grasso asked.

Police release bodycam footage of Bryant University head basketball coach Jared Grasso, standing next to a white SUV believed to have been involved in a hit-and-run crash. (North Smithfield police)

“For leaving the scene of an accident — of an attended vehicle. You can either come in and face the charges, we put a warrant out for your arrest, or you can be picked up,” he said.

The officer then continued the conversation with Grasso’s wife, who got Jared back in the house after he became “emotional” and “wouldn’t allow him to get a word out.”

Grasso was formally charged with a misdemeanor on Oct. 4.

He is set to be arraigned on Tuesday.

Bryant University released the following statement to ABC 6:

“On September 27, Bryant University placed head basketball coach Jared Grasso on a leave of absence from coaching duties. He remains suspended from all university-related duties and restricted from campus while Bryant continues its external investigation.”