WARWICK, RI — Officer David Boardman was called to the intersection of Bald Hill Road and East Avenue for a report of a two-car crash with minor damage, arresting one of the drivers on a DUI charge April 1 at 1:05 a.m.
Boardman reported that he and Officer Thomas Greene asked the drivers to pull into a nearby Dunkin Donuts parking lot to clear the road, which was wet thanks to a rainy morning. Boardman spoke with one driver, Ana Estrela, 31, of 263 Warren Ave., East Providence, who slurred her speech, bloodshot eyes, and had an odor of alcohol on her breath.
Estrela fumbled in the glove compartment when asked for her license and registration, and was unable to produce the latter. As she looked, one of her passengers in the back seat told her numerous times that they had the registration, but Estrela kept looking for it. She told Boardman she had just left a party, where she had had a few drinks.
Boardman invited Estrela to a series of sobriety tests, which did not go well. She demonstrated a lack of smooth pursuit and involuntary eye movements in her vision, almost fell over during a walk and turn test, then walked down the road without waiting for the officer’s instructions, and was so unsteady during a one-leg stand test that Boardman ended that test for her own safety.
Boardman arrested Estrela on suspicion of DUI, and transported her to Warwick Police Headquarters, where she refused a chemical breath test. Boardman charged her with DUI, drugs/alcohol, first offense, blood alcohol unknown, and for refusing the breath test. She was scheduled to appear in Third District Court Tueaday, April 18 to answer the DUI charge. She was also cited for refusing the chemical test, for driving without insurance, for following vehicles too close, and for failure to control her vehicle.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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