Erratic Driver Report Leads to DUI Arrest

WARWICK, RI — Police alerted to an erratic vehicle with a flat tire stopped a gray 2006 Chevy Cobalt on Post Road Aug. 19 at 9:15 p.m. that was traveling with no tires on three wheels, a flat, shredded right front tire, and a missing front fender, ultimately arresting the driver on a DUI charge.

Officers Ali Jaafar and Matthew Higgins, dispatched to the call, and attempted to pull the Cobalt over using the cruiser’s emergency lights and, eventually, an air horn, but were not able to gain the driver’s attention for another .3 miles. The car, which was traveling at 25-30 mph, eventually pulled over just before the Rte. 37 overpass, according to Jaafar’s report.

Jaafar identified the driver as Ashley Houlihan, 23, of 52 New Hampshire St., Cranston, RI. He reported Houlihan’s face was red and her eyes were extremely bloodshot. A strong odor of alcohol was present on her breath, the officer reported.

Jaafar asked Houlihan if she was aware of the severity of the damage to her car, to which she replied that she did not, and was only interested in getting home. Houlihan also denied having drunk any alcohol that night when Jaafar asked her, according to the report.

A series of sobriety tests demonstrated Houlihan had a lack of smooth pursuit in her vision, missed heel-to-toe cadence and was unbalanced during a walk and turn test and could not safely balance on one foot.

Throughout the tests, Houlihan exhibited a wide range of moods, from crying to smiling and laughing, according to Jaafar’s report.

Jaafar transported Houlihan to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where she refused a breath test of her blood alcohol level.

Jaafar charged her with DUI, first offense, and issued her a violation for refusing the breath test. The officer also cited her for operating on metal tires and for lane violations.