DUI Driver Refuses Ride, WPD Intercepts

WARWICK, RI —  Warwick Police arrested a Cranston man for DUI on Post  Road Sept,. 20 at 2:49 p.m. after Chelo’s staff reported he fell getting into his car after a meal and three vodka drinks.

Shortly before witnessing  the man, Gregg Finale, 46, of  80 Concord Ave., who, “fell on his face,” according to the reporting caller, he refused two attempts by restaurant staff to call a ride for him to prevent  him from getting behind the wheel in his condition, according to WPD Officer Corbin Pereiera’s report.

Pereiera received the call and drove toward the area, finding the man’s black 2008 Acura sedan going south near 2299 Post Road, and pulled a U-turn with his emergency lights on to make a traffic stop. The driver, Finale, continued driving another 10th of a mile down Elaine Street before halting the Acura.

Pereiera asked Finale to step out of the vehicle, and the driver stumbled as he did, bracing himself against the car with his left hand. When questioned about his drinking at the restaurant, Finale said he had had “a few beers.”

During sobriety tests, Finale was unable to perform the vision test, was unable to walk a straight line as instructed and was also unable to perform a one-leg stand as instructed.

A search of Finale’s vehicle turned up an opened, half-empty 16 oz. can of Narragansett beer.

Pereiera arrested Finale on suspicion of DUI and transported him to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where he refused a blood alcohol test. Pereiera charged him with DUI, blood alcohol content unknown, and driving in the presence of alcohol.

Finale was arraigned on the charges in Third Division District Court, which were amended to Reckless Driving and Other Offenses Against Public Safety – 1st Offense, on Sept. 20. Finale pled no contest on Oct. 6 and was ordered to pay $97.75 in court costs.