WARWICK, RI — Officer Brian Holleran was called to the entrance of Community College of RI at 400 East Ave. Aug. 4 at 10:20 p.m. for a report of a crash, arresting the driver on a DUI charge.
When he got there, Holleran saw the car, a gray 2005 Nissan Altima, which had damage to its front passenger side. Holleran found the driver behind the wheel, identifying her as Shakira Baker, 39, of 91 Phenix Ave., West Warwick, according to the officer’s report.
Baker told Holleran that she had been stopped at the traffic light and when she accelerated at the light change, a vehicle to her right struck her car, according to the report.
As the two spoke, Holleran reported smelling an odor of alcohol on the driver’s breath. When asked, Baker said that she had drank two beers two hours before the crash at Picasso’s Pizza.
A series of sobriety tests showed Baker had involuntary eye movement and a lack of smooth pursuit in her vision and an inability to balance safely on one foot. She refused to complete complete the walk and turn test, according to the report.
Holleran arrested Baker and transported her to Warwick Police headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where she refused a breath test of her blood alcohol level. Holleran charged her with DUI, blood alcohol unknown, and cited her for refusing the test.
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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