👮 Law Enforcement · Canton PD

Steven Saraf

Canton police officer who responded to 34 Fairview Road.

Trial 1

461 lines 3 proceedings

About

Steven Saraf testified that he arrived at 34 Fairview Road in snow and darkness and found John O’Keefe on the lawn. He said O’Keefe was cold to the touch and had no pulse, so he returned to his cruiser for an AED before firefighters took over his care. Saraf said Karen Read appeared to be giving CPR and that she repeatedly said “this is all my fault,” “I did this,” and asked whether O’Keefe was dead. Defense counsel compared those statements with Saraf’s earlier accounts. His initial report and next-day interview attributed only “is he dead” to Read, while his later grand-jury testimony included additional statements. Saraf called the omission an oversight and said his testimony reflected his memory. He also said he did not hear Read say “I hit him” and could not understand disputed audio from his cruiser-camera video. Questioned about discrepancies in the dispatch log’s address, times and arrival order, he explained that dispatchers send emergency resources before completing call-entry details.

Trial Record (3)

Trial 1 First Criminal Trial Apr 29, 2024 – Jul 1, 2024 3 proceedings

Day 1 April 29, 2024

Direct Steven Saraf — Direct Examination Steven Saraf Adam Lally 3 highlights 189 lines spoken

Summary

Officer Saraf described his snowy early-morning response to 34 Fairview Road, his initial observations of John O'Keefe and Karen Read, and cruiser-camera video of his route and arrival.

Highlights (3)

Quote

“I couldn't find any pulse or anything like that, and he was cold to the touch.”

Describes Saraf's initial physical observations when he checked John O'Keefe.

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Quote

“Ms. Read was visible upset. She kept saying, this is all my fault. This is my fault. I did this. And she was very hysterical. She kept asking -- he's dead. Is he dead? Is he dead?”

Saraf attributed these repeated statements and observations of Read's demeanor to her at the scene.

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Key Moment

Saraf described checking O'Keefe for a pulse, finding none, and retrieving an AED before the fire department took over care.

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Day 2 April 30, 2024

Cross Steven Saraf - Cross-Examination Steven Saraf Alan Jackson 4 highlights 253 lines spoken

Summary

Officer Saraf acknowledged errors in the dispatch log and omissions from his early accounts, while the defense used dash-camera video to question what he observed and heard at the scene.

Highlights (4)

Quote

“Not in order, no. It's not. Not in order, no, and time.”

Saraf acknowledged that the dispatch log was inaccurate as to both officer order and timing.

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Quote

“Yes. I missed it. I didn't write it down.”

Saraf described the omission of a later-attributed statement from his initial report as an oversight.

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Quote

“So they can't collaborate their story.”

Saraf explained why witnesses are ordinarily separated at a scene.

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Quote

“I did not hear that, no.”

Saraf denied hearing Karen Read say "I hit him."

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Redirect Steven Saraf - Redirect Steven Saraf Adam Lally 1 highlights 18 lines spoken

Summary

Saraf explained emergency dispatch procedures, reaffirmed his memory of the scene, and said he saw no residents come outside while he was on Fairview Road.

Highlights (1)

Quote

“Usually the first thing they would do is dispatch, get people going to the scene and get everybody rolling as far as if they need F.D., police, whatever resources they need”

Saraf described the emergency-response priority that he said preceded detailed dispatch-log entry.

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Locations Touched By This Testimony

34 Fairview Road 3 procs Canton Police Department 3 procs