WARWICK, RI — Officer Matthew Smith stopped and arrested a speeding driver on a reckless driving charge after spotting the man swerving around cars, running lights and fishtailing his white 1995 Volvo at 68 mph down Post Road and onto Warwick Avenue Feb. 23 at 12:52 a.m.
Smith was driving south near 840 Post Road that night when he spotted the Volvo going north at 68 mph. The officer turned on his emergency lights, pulled U-turn and began following the car as it swerved around other cars at a high rate of speed, failing to stop for a red light at the intersection of Warwick Avenue and Post Road without slowing or stopping, narrowly missing a collision with a car that had just passed through it on a green light. As the Volvo turned left onto Warwick Avenue through the intersection, its rear end fishtailed nearly 180 degrees before the driver regained control and continued heading north on Warwick Avenue, according to Smith’s report.
Smith reported hearing the Volvo’s tires screeching during the maneuver.
Officer Gregory Accino, stationed at the intersection, heard the screeching tires and saw the Volvo swerve briefly out of control before the driver regained control. Accino and another officer aided Smith in pulling the car over near 539 Warwick Avenue.
Smith spoke with the driver, identifying him as Jonathan P. McDowell, 29, of 267 Montgomery Ave., Providence, RI, whom he had previously cited for speeding, 67 mph in a 35 mph zone, on Feb. 17.
Smith argued that he had been traveling at 45 mph, and said he had been driving home from work. A series of sobriety tests did not show evidence of intoxication, the officer reported.
Smith arrested McDowell, transporting him to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, charging him with reckless driving, with a Third District Court date of March 23. Smith also cited him for speeding, failing to obey traffic lights, and violating road lanes, with a date in the RI Traffic Tribunal March 24.
He was released into the custody of a sober adult at 2:41 a.m.
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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