Mass. Sheriff Arrested at MGM Springfield for Drunk Driving

A sheriff in Hampden County, Massachusetts, was arrested in late Sept. 2024 at the MGM Springfield Casino after driving a police vehicle drunk that was also missing a tire. 

The sheriff, Nick Cocchi, 51, was driving a Ford Explorer with police license plates when he left the car running in the valet section on Sept. 21, 2024. 

After going inside the casino and coming out 40 minutes later, police were there waiting to arrest him. 

“He Abused His Position”

Assistant Attorney General Mary Sandtrom didn’t mince her words when discussing Cocchi, saying to Judge William F. Manzanec III, “He abused his position.” 

“City video cameras showed the white Ford Explorer in this area, smoking, and a tire bouncing away from the vehicle,” Sandstrom said, adding that state police later retrieved the tire as evidence.

Cocchi apparently called a mechanic from his department to come and change the tire, and Sandstrom viewed that as Cocchi trying to “hide evidence.”

This came after Cocchi said someone still inside the casino was driving the car, but the story was changed to him driving after he was reminded of surveillance footage. 

Refused Field Sobriety Tests

After saying he had “a couple of beers” while playing golf at the Springfield Country Club, Cocchi refused field sobriety tests and also refused a breathalyzer. His license was automatically suspended. 

Surveillance footage showed him arriving at 6:44 p.m. ET before heading inside the casino. Fellow casino-goers stared at him and the vehicle, which was missing a front right tire. 

Year of Probation

On Sept. 23, Cocchi admitted to driving while intoxicated and was given a year of probation, fined $600, and his license was suspended for 45 days. 

Also, as a condition of his sentence, he has to complete an alcoholic driver education course. 

Cocchi was also suspended from work for three days to help cover the cost of the vehicle repairs. 

“I take full responsibility for what happened this past Saturday,” he said after the plea. “[Many people] point fingers in today’s political climate, but I wasn’t raised that way. In both my personal and professional life, I stand by my actions.”