Officers Find Woman Slumped at Wheel of Running Car, in Reverse, with Open Cognac

Warwick, RI – When Warwick Police Lt. Joseph Hopkins checked on a black 2013 Toyota running, in reverse, with the brake lights on in the lot of Rotondo’s Service Station at 685 Warwick Ave. July 5 at 1:46 a.m., he found the driver slumped over the wheel with an open Hennesey Cognac bottle next to her.

Hopkins and Officer Jeffrey Taranto banged on the car windows and woke the woman, later identified as Brittany Sharbuno, 20, of 5966 NW Brenda Cir, Port St. Lucie, Fl., who had locked herself in the car, according to Hopkins’ report. She ignored the officers’ directions to open the car and put it in park, backing up slowly instead for about 20 feet before turning off the engine and then unlocking the car doors.

Hopkins pulled Sharbuno from the car, noting a strong odor of alcohol on her breath, slurred speech and unsteady balance, according to his report. While searching the car, the officer also discovered the drivers seat was wet with urine.

Both officers noted the car had front-end damage, a missing drivers-side mirror and vegetation stuck to the front. At the station, Sharbuno said she had a car fax report proving she had purchased the vehicle with the damage.

The officers asked Sharbuno to perform a series of sobriety tests, which she failed, according to the reports. Sharbuno exhibited a lack of smooth pursuit in her vision, stepped off line and was unbalanced during the walk and turn and was unable to perform a one-leg stand.

The officers arrested Sharbuno, charging her with driving under the influence, blood alcohol content unknown, and refusing to submit to a chemical test. She was released to her mother, according to Taranto’s report.