Coventry Man Charged for DUI During Speed Stop

WARWICK, RI — Warwick Police  charged a Coventry man with DUI Oct. 23 at 1:13 a.m. after stopping him for speeding on East Avenue, going 65 in 35 mph zone.

According to Officer Jonathan Lee, he spotted the 2021 Acura RDX speeding at 375 East Avenue, near the intersection of East Avenue and Greenwich Avenue, going 65, and stopped the car at 545 East Avenue. The driver pulled into the nearby Planet Fitness log at 650 Bald Hill Road. Lee identified the diver as Brian Carpenter, 49, of 44 York Drive, Coventry.

As they spoke, Lee reported that Carpenter spoke with slurred speech and had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath. When asked where he was coming from, Carpenter said he was returning home in Coventry from visiting a friend in Warwick.

During sobriety tests, Carpenter demonstrated a lack of smooth pursuit and involuntary eye movement in his vision and a refused to participate in either the One-Leg-Stand or Walk-And-Turn tests.

Following the tests, Lee arrested Carpenter on suspicion of DUI, and transported him to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive. His car was towed from the scene by Ronnie’s Towing.

Lee charged Carpenter with: DUI, first offense, blood alcohol content unknown. He was also cited for speeding, lane violations and refusing a chemical test.