WARWICK, R.I. — Officer Thomas Greene was driving east Airport Road Dec. 6 at 2:02 a.m. when he spotted a black 2007 Ford Fusion swerving back and forth across the lanes, pulled it over and ultimately arrested the driver, charging him with DUI and possession of clonazapan.
Greene followed the driver of the sedan past 300 Airport Road, the entrance of Winslow Park at the man’s car continued to swerve, making a sweeping right hand turn at Hoxie Four Corners onto Warwick Avenue, crossing the double yellow line in the process.
Greene turned on his lights to pull the car over, and the man pulled into the DePetrillo’s Pizza on Lake Shore Drive, according to the officer’s report.
Greene spoke with the driver, identified as Christopher Lohin, 31, who said he had been on his way to visit his wife’s house to see his kids. He told Green he’d been swerving because he’d been distracted by his GPS, according to the officer’s report.
During the conversation, Greene noted Lohin’s breath smelled of alcohol, his eyes were bloodshot, and his speech was slurred.
Given these alternate indications of a possible reason for Lohin’s erratic driving, Greene invited him to take a series of sobriety tests, which did not go well for him.
During the test, Lohin demonstrated a lack of smooth pursuit in his vision and involuntary eye movement, failed to keep his balance during a walk and turn test and was unable to safely stand on one foot.
Greene arrested Lohin on suspicion of DUI, then transported him to Warwick Police Headquarters at 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where he refused to submit to a breath alcohol test.
A search of Lohin’s person at the station turned up a small tin box with nine yellow pills later identified as Clonazapan.
Greene charged Lohin with DUI, first offense, blood alcohol unknown, and also charged him with possession of Clonazapan, a controlled substance. The officer cited Lohin for refusing the breath test, for lane violations and for driving without insurance.
Lohin was scheduled to answer the DUI charge on Jan. 3 in Third District Court.
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.
This is a test
