Broderick faces scrutiny for actions

Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick found himself in hot water this week.

Following an investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff's Office, where he is employed as a lieutenant supervisor, it was learned Broderick had influenced a sheriff's deputy in the arrest of Rachel Winter, 21, who was pulled over for suspected drunk driving last winter.

According to the NCSO and media reports, Winter, the daughter of Ron Winter, a former Niagara County district attorney and current law clerk to State Supreme Court Justice Richard Kloch Sr., failed field sobriety testing and was arrested for driving while intoxicated.

Undersheriff Michael Filicetti said the woman requested her father contact the Niagara County Sheriff's Office regarding her taking a Breathalyzer test. Soon after, the deputy involved in the arrest sought the advice of Broderick.

It was then Broderick allegedly intervened on behalf of the woman. Filicetti said Broderick asked the deputy if he felt OK about reducing the DWI charge to less-serious charges of reckless driving and failure to keep right.

Filicetti said the matter came to his attention in February, as the county district attorney's office was preparing its case against Winter, and said video taken from the incident conflicted with the official report.

As a result, Winter's original driving while intoxicated charge was reinstated. She faces court dates out of Niagara County, where it was deemed there would be a conflict of interest.

Filicetti declined to elaborate on the department's actions taken against Broderick.