Driver Charged with DUI, Cocaine Possession Oct. 28

WARWICK, RI — On Oct. 28 at 1:56 a.m., Officer Connor Bemis stopped a gray 2010 Ford Fusion driving in the center of  Centerville Road’s west lanes, charging the driver with DUI and cocaine possession.

Bemis was patrolling the area of Centerville Road near Hardig Road at the time when he spotted the car straddling the dotted white line in the west lanes, swerving back and forth, going 50 mph in the 35 mph zone, and pulled the car over near 531 Centerville Road, according to the officer’s report.

Bemis identified the driver as Timothy O’Brien, 26, of 86 Falcon Ridge Drive, Exeter, RI. As he gathered O’Brien’s information, he noticed the driver’s eyes were bloodshot, and could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from him, according to the report.

When asked why he’d been swerving, O’Brien said he’d been trying to avoid potholes, Bemis reported. O’Brien also told him he was on his way to Bo’s Billiards in Cranston, but when Bemis noted that the pool hall had been closed for about an hour, he said he’d been coming from the spot, where he had spent his night. Bemis radioed for a second unit, and three officers responded. Bemis began sobriety tests with O’Brien.

During the tests, O’Brien demonstrated a lack of smooth pursuit and involuntary movement in his vision, had difficulty walking a line heel-to-toe, and used his arms for balance, then swayed and put his foot down five seconds in to the 10-second limit during a one-leg stand test. Bemis arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence of 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.

During a search during processing, an officer found a small plastic bag containing white powder, which later tested as cocaine, in O’Brien’s sock.

Bemis charged O’Brien with DUI, blood alcohol unknown, first offense and possession of cocaine, less than 10 grams. He cited O’Brien for refusing the breath test, for lane violations, and for speeding. He was transported to Kent Hospital for detox treatment.