Officer implicated in drug case on leave

BOSTON

A Boston police officer who the Globe first reported in July was under investigation in the alleged distribution of steroids was placed on paid administrative leave yesterday, police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said. Edgardo Rodriguez, 37, is the fourth officer implicated in a police corruption case that emerged in July, when three Boston officers were indicted by a US grand jury on charges they guarded large shipments thought to be cocaine. Rodriguez had been on desk duty with no access to his weapon since the scandal first broke, but police officials asked him yesterday not to return to work pending the results of an investigation.

A US District Court jury in Boston awarded $400,000 to a South Florida man yesterday, agreeing with his contention that he was taken off an American Airlines flight in December 2003 because of racial profiling, his lawyers said. John Cerqueira was taken off Flight 2237 from Boston to Fort Lauderdale as he tried to travel home after visiting family in Fall River, where he was raised. After Cerqueira, who is of Portuguese descent, was questioned and cleared by State Police, American Airlines still would not book him on another flight and would not provide an explanation for its decision, his lawyers said.

Former Boston mayor and onetime US ambassador Raymond L. Flynn was selected by organizers in New York City as the grand marshal of this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade. Flynn, who was mayor from 1984 to 1993, will be installed as grand marshal Wednesday night at the New York Athletic Club, said parade organizers. The Big Apple's 246th St. Patrick's Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m. March 17.

Investigators for the National Transportation Safety Board will review data and records from the commuter rail system's Somerville dispatch center over the next several weeks before issuing a preliminary report about an accident that killed two rail workers this week in Woburn. Ted Turpin, the lead investigator in the case, flew back to California yesterday to review the data and plans to return for more interviews. Two workers with the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad were killed and four others were injured Tuesday when a Boston-bound commuter rail slammed into them at 60 miles per hour. Turpin has said the investigation is focusing on human error. The dispatcher in charge of securing the work zone has been placed on administrative leave and is refusing to be interviewed by investigators. The probe is also examining whether the work crew failed to place a metal shunt on the tracks that would have alerted train crews that the tracks ahead were occupied.

Stephen Tocco, chairman of the Board of Higher Education since 1999, resigned from that post yesterday. In his letter of resignation, Tocco told Governor Deval Patrick that he needed to devote his full attention to the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees, which he has chaired since the fall. "Please know that my commitment to public higher education is my passion, and I will play any role in a transition to a new Board Chair that you wish," he wrote. Cyndi Roy, a Patrick spokeswoman, said the governor has not yet decided on a replacement.

ROCKPORT

A police officer has been charged with illegally discharging his weapon and assault with intent to murder following an incident yesterday. Rockport police released little information about the incident beyond a statement saying that Officer Robert O'Neil has been charged with discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, assault with intent to murder, domestic assault and battery, and assault with a dangerous weapon.

ARLINGTON

Two teenagers were seriously injured in a two-car accident on Route 2 in Arlington yesterday afternoon, in a crash that snarled rush-hour traffic for miles. The two victims were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening after a 1999 Honda sedan rear-ended a Hyundai sedan shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Route 2 west, State Police said. Four people suffered minor injuries. The three travel lanes were shut down for about 90 minutes, police said.