DUI Charge Jan. 12 Follows Missed Stop Sign

WARWICK, RI — WPD Officer Nathan Skawinski stopped a a silver Toyota driver on Kilvert Street Jan. 12 at 1:30 a.m. after she ignored a stop sign and swerved over the center lines, arresting him on a DUI charge.

Skawinski was monitoring traffic at Kilvert Street and Metro Center Boulevard when the car exited Sonetta Suites, then ignored a stop sign. The officer followed the driver as she drove over the double center line in the road for a prolonged time, then stopped the car on Kilvert Street at the intersection with Greystone Street.

Skawinski spoke with and identified the driver as Mike A. Gamez, 33, of 7 Alto St., Cranston, RI.  As the two spoke, Skawinski noted his speech was slurred, his eyes were bloodshot, and he struggled to locate his insurance and registration.

Skawinski asked Gamez to step out of the car and perform sobriety tests. As he stepped out, Gamez told Skawinski he had consumed, “a few drinks” that night.

During the tests, Gamez demonstrated a lack of smooth pursuit and involuntary movement in his vision, was unable to balance or count his steps during a walk and turn test, and used his ams for balance, put his foot down and stumbled during a one-leg stand test.

Skawinski arrested Gamez on suspicion of DUI, alcohol, and transported him to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where he refused to submit to a breath test of his blood alcohol content. At the station, Gamez said, “I’m wrong, OK? Yeah, I have been drinking,” and stated he was upset that Skawinski did not follow him home instead of arresting him.

Gamez was arraigned in Third Division District Court Jan. 13, then released on $1,000 surety bail. He was scheduled for three pre-trial conferences on Feb. 10, Feb. 24 and the third on March 10.