DUI Arrestee: ‘F**k You, I’m not Drunk’

WARWICK, RI — Warwick Police charged a Cranston man with DUI, hit & run, and driving a black 2008 Ford F-350 without the owner’s consent June 29 at 7:24 p.m.after finding him asleep behind the wheel at Speedway, 61 Airport Road.

Officers Ben Bratko and Ryan Shibley were called to the gas station for a request to check on a man sleeping behind the wheel of a pickup, finding the driver still sleeping, but with the truck off and the keys removed. Bratko reported a customer at the station had removed the keys before the arrived. Bratcko noted Masterson was holding an unopened nip bottle in one hand and with an empty container of what appeared to be beer in the center console.

The truck, which had sustained front-end damage,  was identified as the one that had left the scene of a crash, according to the officer’s report.

Bratko woke the man and identified him as Mark Masterson, 35, of 170 Park Ave., Cranston, RI, and asked him to step from the truck. Bratko noted Masterson had bloodshot eyes, was unsteady on his feet, and smelled strongly of alcohol.

During sobriety tests, Masterson demonstrated a lack of smooth pursuit and involuntary moment in his vision, was unable to walk a straight line and turned incorrectly during a walk and turn test, and swayed and put his foot down during a one-leg stand test, Bratko reported.

As Bratko read Masterson his rights, he said to the officer, “F**k you, I’m not drunk. Why are you guys busting my balls?” according to the officer’s report.

At this point, the hit & run victim was driven to the lot, where he identified Masterson and his truck as the driver and vehicle that had been in the crash and left the scene. A background check also revealed that Masterson’s driver’s license was suspended, and that he had an active bench warrant out of Providence Superior Court.

On his way to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, in Bratko’s cruiser, Masterson cursed at Bratko, threatened to sexually assault his wife and kill his dog, and threatened the officer himself, according to the report.

At headquarters, Masterson demanded Bratko call his boss, who, once contacted, informed the officer Masterson had been driving his company truck without permission, and that he had been trying to reach him to tell him to stop, and that he would like to press charges.

When asked if he would like to call anyone, Masterson continued swearing at Bratko and demanded his phone, which had not been on him at the time of his arrest, so police did not have it to give to him, according to the report. He continued to swear and demand his phone after that was explained to him, Bratko reported. Masterson also refused to submit to a breath test when asked, answering with a likely rhetorical question about whether Masterson looked as if he was not smart.

Bratko ultimately charged Masterson with DUI, blood alcohol unknown, failing to stop after a crash involving damage to a vehicle, driving with a expired license, third offense, refusing to submit to a chemical test, and driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent.