Driver Arrested for DUI, Leaving Scene on Greenwich Avenue

WARWICK, RI — Warwick Police were called to 389 Greenwich Ave., St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, for a report of a crash with one car leaving the scene Oct. 13 at 6:41 p.m., locating a driver on Lambert Lind Highway, arresting and charging him with DUI and leaving a crash.

Officer Brian Holleran arrived at the site of the crash and spoke with the driver of the remaining car, who told him he’d been driving east on East Avenue in front of Rhode Island Mall when a black 1998 Acura sedan struck his car on the rear passenger side and drove away.

The man said his daughter complained of neck pain from the crash, so he followed the car in an attempt to get the driver to stop. The man called 911, giving the dispatcher a description of the car before he was instructed to pull over and wait for an officer to meet him, according to the officer’s report.

During Holleran’s talk with the first driver, Officer Nicholas Dinardo radioed that he had found a car matching the description given by the first drivern near 80 Lambert Lind Highway. The car had moderate damage to the front drivers side, and a flat tire.

Holleran drove to and spoke with the second driver, identified as Jason Raposa, 42, of 92 Blackamore Ave., Cranston, RI, who was sitting on the sidewalk next to his car. Raposa told Holleran he had been returning from playing with a band at Borowski’s Pub, where he had been drinking, having three beers, according to the report.

As the man spoke, Holleran reported being able to smell alcohol on his breath. When asked if he had drank any alcohol since the crash, Raposa said he didn’t remember the crash.

Given the information collected to this point, Holleran invited Raposa to a series of sobriety tests, which did not go well for the man. He demonstrated a lack of smooth pursuit and involuntary eye  movements in his vision, was unable to safely walk a straight line and could not balance long during the One Leg Stand.

Holleran arrested Raposa and transported him to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where he registered a .155 and .166 on successive breath alcohol tests.

Holleran charged Raposa with DUI, first offense, .15 or greater, failing in his duty to stop following a crash involving damage, operating with out obtaining a license – third offense.

Holleran released Raposa to a sober adult with a Third District Court summons for Nov. 8,  2018.