Officer Arrests Swerving Warwick Avenue Driver on DUI Charge

WARWICK, RI — Officer David Boardman was patrolling Warwick Avenue July 16 at 1:48 a.m. when he spotted a black 2002 Acura sedan take a right onto the street from Church Avenue before swerving into the opposite lane, prompting the policeman to stop and arrest the driver on a DUI charge.

Boardman reported he first noticed the sedan as it turned onto Warwick Avenue without signaling, then followed as it swerved into the opposite lane multiple times. Boardman pulled the car over, noting that it did not pull all the way into the breakdown lane, remaining partly in the right hand lane, according to the officers report.

Boardman spoke with the driver, identifying him as Joel Rodriguez, 47, of 48 Westwood Ave., and could immediately smell a strong odor of alcohol on the man’s breath, according to the officer’s report. Boardman also noted the man’s speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot.

Rodriguez told the officer that he had drank a beer at a friend’s house, from where he was returning home to his home in Cranston. As they talked Boardman noticed a Solo cup in the back seat containing what appeared to be orange juice and ice cubes. There was also a strong odor of alcohol coming from the cup, Boardman reported.

Boardman invited Rodriguez to a series of sobriety tests, on which he did not fare well. Rodriguez demonstrated a lack of smooth pursuit and involuntary eye movement in his vision, stepped off line and nearly fell during a walk and turn test, and could not safely balance on one foot.

Boardman arrested Rodriguez, and transported him to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive. A truck from Shea’s Towing towed the Acura from the scene.

At the station, Rodriguez refused to take a breath test. Boardman charged him DUI, first offense, blood alcohol unknown, and issued Rodriguez a citation for refusing the breath test. He also cited him for not using a turn signal and lane violations.