Police footage released of Bryant coach Jared Grasso's arrest. What it shows.
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NORTH SMITHFIELD – Police have released body-camera footage that preceded the arrest of Bryant University men’s basketball coach Jared Grasso this month.
WJAR-TV obtained the recording and posted it to its website Thursday morning. The 30-minute clip shows Grasso and his wife, Andrea, in conversation with town patrolman Justin Switzer in the driveway of their home. The clip is dated Oct. 2 with a starting timestamp of shortly before 1 p.m.
What the footage shows from before Jared Grasso's arrest
Switzer said he was investigating a hit-and-run accident on Route 146 South involving two vehicles. The occupants of one vehicle – an unnamed woman, her daughter and a child – said they were sideswiped by a second vehicle that failed to stop at the scene. Switzer said the occupants relayed a license plate number that matched a white vehicle parked in Grasso’s driveway.
“I can kind of conclude at that point there is enough evidence that it was him in the driver’s seat and he struck the vehicle,” Switzer said to Grasso's wife. “So, at this point he’s going to be charged with leaving the scene of an accident with an attended vehicle, which is a misdemeanor charge.”
“What does that mean?” Andrea Grasso said.
“He’s going to be arrested,” Switzer said.
More: Despite Jared Grasso's absence, Bryant basketball picked 3rd in America East this season
Switzer offered Grasso two options – surrender himself at police headquarters for processing or wait at home for officers to formally arrest him. This came days after Grasso was placed on leave by Bryant's administration. No formal reason was offered by Bulldogs athletic director Bill Smith, but a source within the department said the decision was not related to Grasso’s health or his family’s health. Associate head coach Phil Martelli Jr. has been elevated to acting head coach.
“If I’m being recorded I want everyone to know what’s going on,” Grasso said, one of several instances in which he confirmed with Switzer that their interaction was being recorded. “There’s kind of a funky deal going on right now. I don’t know if you’re aware of what’s taking place.
“There’s a little bit of an attack going on and this is going to turn into kind of a – this isn’t a good thing. I don’t want to talk too much because my lawyer’s not here.”
Grasso’s attorney, Craig Montecalvo, identified himself during a cellphone conversation with Switzer later in the video. They spoke after Andrea Grasso placed a call to Montecalvo from inside the home. Montecalvo is based in Providence and lists his areas of focus as moving violations, criminal defense, domestic violence and student conduct.
“I know he’s emotional right now,” Montecalvo said.
Switzer observed damage along the right side of Grasso’s van, scratches that stretched from the rear to the passenger side door. Grasso said he had been at Blackie’s the previous day, a restaurant and bar near the school's Smithfield campus. Grasso said he “came out to my car and this is what it looked like.”
“I’m a little confused right now because I parked my car at Blackie’s and it didn’t look like this,” Grasso said. “Then my wife came to meet me there and she told me there was something wrong with my car.”
“We have a hit-and-run on 146,” Switzer said. “They got your plate specifically.”
Grasso spent nearly 20 minutes in conversation with Switzer before being led inside his home by his wife. He identified himself at one point as the Bryant basketball coach and said he personally knew state police superintendent Col. Darnell S. Weaver. Grasso frequently interrupted Switzer while attempting to convey his version of the previous day’s events.
“There’s actually a meeting taking place right now,” Grasso said. “And now I feel like I’m being attacked again. That’s my concern right now.”
“Attacked by who?” Switzer said.
“Not by you,” Grasso said. “But by a situation. North Smithfield – it's a pretty small town.
“My name’s Jared Grasso. I’m the basketball coach at Bryant University. There’s kind of a situation taking place right now that I’ve kind of been put in the middle of. And it will all shake itself out.
“If I was concerned about anything I wouldn’t be this calm. If you knew me a lot better you would understand that.”
Grasso was hired away from Iona in April 2018 and was about to enter his sixth season on the Bulldogs sidelines. He took the program to its first NCAA Tournament in 2021-22 and signed a long-term contract extension through the 2026-27 season. Bryant hasn't offered any timeline on Grasso's leave from the team.
“He’s very stressed out,” Andrea Grasso said. “His livelihood is at ... ”
“He’s been talking about a situation,” Switzer said. “I have no idea.”
“You don’t have to worry about it,” Andrea Grasso said.
Grasso is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday. Bryant opens its season Nov. 6 with a home game against Manhattan. Martelli and Grasso's remaining staff have overseen the Bulldogs for the better part of the last three weeks.
"It's my policy not to offer comment on pending cases," Montecalvo said by phone later Thursday. "I'm looking forward to resolving the case quickly. I look forward to offering additional context upon its conclusion."
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Bryant basketball coach Jared Grasso arrest body cam footage released
