‘You know who I am, right?’: Woman charged with DUI in East Greenwich

EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (WLNE) — A Cranston woman has been charged with DUI and multiple roadway citations, and allegedly verbally abused arresting officers, according to an East Greenwich Police Department incident report.

According to police, a white Lincoln Aviator was observed repeatedly swerving on Division Street just after midnight Thursday.

The vehicle was pulled over near the Showcase Cinema Plaza and police encountered Maria Bucci in the driver’s seat with a heavily intoxicated passenger, according to the report.

Police said that a strong odor of alcohol was coming from the car and Bucci said she was dropping off her cousin.

The officer said that Bucci’s eyes appeared bloodshot, watery and glassy and that she produced a driver’s license and said “I think this one’s expired, but I have the new one in my bag.”

The officer said that Bucci exhibited slurred speech with the statement.

A strong odor of alcohol was also detected on Bucci’s breath as the interaction continued, according to police.

After an unsuccessful attempt to locate her registration, Bucci said “I don’t have it, what do you want?” according to police.

When asked where she was headed, Bucci pointed toward the plaza and said “Her house right der,” according to East Greenwich PD.

Bucci attempted to produce proof of insurance via her cell phone and “began slurring more unidentifiable words” according to the police report.

Bucci also said “She drank, I didn’t,” shortly followed by “I had a glass of wine about two hours ago,” according to the officer.

Bucci also said “I’m not arguing with you, you probably know already who I work with,” according to police.

The passenger attempted to exit the vehicle and a second arriving officer told her to stay in the car, according to the report.

The passenger tried to exit the vehicle two more times during the stop, according to police.

Bucci was asked to exit the vehicle and stand at its rear, at which time she said “I already told you she drank, stop embarrassing us,” and “You know who I am right? You know who I am right?” according to police.

Police said that during field sobriety tests, Bucci was unwilling to follow directions and became argumentative, stating “My nephew is law enforcement, my uncle’s law enforcement.”

She then aggressively pointed a finger at the officer and screamed at him, according to his account.

“Call my husband right now and call the Attorney General and everybody else in town,” Bucci said, according to the report.

Bucci was arrested at this time and continued to berate the arresting officer, according to the report.

Bucci reportedly continued this behavior during transport to police headquarters.

During processing Bucci continued with “abusive comments” toward the arresting officer, saying “This (expletive), I’m going to kill ’em,” according to police.

According to police, Bucci refused a breathalyzer test, and was arraigned by a justice of the peace for DUI, first offense, BAC unknown.

Bucci also received numerous citations, including laned roadway violations, refusal to submit to a chemical test and others, according to the police report.

She was released to the care of her husband and is scheduled to appear in District Court on January 5, 2026.