Aug 20, 2007 6:28 pm US/Eastern
Major Development In Death Of Homeless Man
by Tony Aiello
MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. (CBS) ―
Nearly four months after the death of a homeless man under mysterious circumstances, investigators believe a major question has been answered.
It was late April when Rene Perez was found lying on Byram Lake Road in Bedford, near-death from internal bleeding.
Perez, a homeless alcoholic, was found a short time after he interacted with three police officers in Mount Kisco, where he'd used a phone at a laundromat to call 911, complaining he didn't feel well.
Investigators have been working to determine how Perez was injured, and how he was transported from Mount Kisco to Bedford.
Two weeks ago, CBS 2 first reported surveillance cameras near the scene captured video of a Mount Kisco police car driving on Byram Lake Raod, shortly before Perez was found.
Now, sources tell the station the car on the video is Mount Kisco Car 40.
An analysis of the video showed the car in question had a so-called "cow catcher," which is a set of metal bars attached to its front bumper.
Car 40 is the only one in the Mount Kisco fleet that is so equipped.
On that April night, Car 40 was driven by Officer George Bubaris, one of three Mount Kisco cops who interacted with Perez at the laundromat.
Sources tell CBS 2 the video has convinced investigators that Bubaris drove Perez from Mount Kisco into Bedford, and dropped him off on the side of Byram Lake Road.
In an interview, Bubaris's attorney refused to talk about the surveillance video and what it might show.
"I'm not going to comment about where [Bubaris] was that night, at that time," said Ed Hayes.
But Hayes insisted Bubaris did nothing to injure Perez.
"It's a little rough to turn to George Bubaris and say, 'look, you're a killer,' right, when they have nothing to show Bubaris ever touched the guy," Hayes said. "Perez could have fallen, or gotten into a fight with someone."
Indeed, sources tell CBS 2 investigators were looking at several theories regarding how Perez was injured, and were not focused solely on police as the possible source of the injury.
Because Perez was an alcoholic, sources said he was more susceptible to internal bleeding from a fall or glancing blow.
"It's entirely possible the guy was hit or pushed, in a way that wouldn't hurt you or me, but it was enough to kill him," said one source close to the investigation.
Perez was a well-known troublemaker in Mount Kisco, and had been arrested repeatedly for petty crimes.
The Westchester District Attorney has several staffmembers investigating his death. So far, no charges have been filed, and Bubaris has been placed on desk duty.
Bubaris's attorney told CBS 2 the other Mount Kisco officers who interacted with Perez that night have been offered immunity from prosecution, and their attorneys will no longer return his phone calls.
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