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Officer Arrests Driver on DUI Charge After Man Tries to Leave Scene

The Warwick Police Department is located at 99 Veterans Memorial Drive.
The Warwick Police Department is located at 99 Veterans Memorial Drive.
The Warwick Police Department is located at 99 Veterans Memorial Drive.

WARWICK, R.I. — Officer David Boardman had been at the scene of a two-car crash at the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and Main Avenue June 23 at 11:09 p.m. only a few moments when a witness pointed out one of the drivers stumbling away.

Boardman stopped the man, later identified as Juan Muriel, 41, of 38 Winthrop Ave., Providence, as he tried to walk away near the fence of the Greenwood Inn, and invited him to a series of sobriety tests, which he agreed to, then performed poorly, according to Boardman’s report.

Boardman noted he could smell a strong odor of alcohol on the man’s breath, that he slurred his speech, and his eyes were very bloodshot.

The other driver in the crash told Boardman he was driving south on Jefferson Boulevard when a car approached him on the wrong side of the road, causing him to swerve to avoid a crash. Unfortunately, the driver was not able to avoid crashing into Muriel’s car.

A witness said he saw Muriel try to re-start his car after the crash, then saw the driver leave on foot before being caught by Boardman.

During the sobriety tests, Muriel demonstrated a lack of smooth pursuit in his vision as well as involuntary eye movements, was not able to maintain heel-to-toe cadence while walking a straight line and stumbled, using his arms for balance then nearly falling over. Boardman caught Muriel and prevented his fall.

Boardman ended the sobriety tests without doing the one-leg stand, out of concern for Muriel’s safety. The officer arrested, then transported, Muriel to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where he registered a .213, .236, and .230 percent blood alcohol level.

Boardman charged Muriel with DUI, blood alcohol .15 or greater, and with failing in his duty to stop following a crash resulting in damage. He was scheduled for hearings in Third District Court on both charges for July 18.

Rob Borkowski
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.

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