Warwick, RI – A driver slumped in a black 2007 Audi at the pumps of the Airport Road Hess station jerked awake when an officer knocked on his window, wrenched the wheel back and forth, and pointed himself at a DUI charge early Jan. 20.
Officer Jeremy Smith reported the man, later identified as James D. Ulbin, 25, of 83 Maywood Ave., Warwick, also briefly tried to take apart the car’s arm rest before calming and unlocking the car for the officer at 2:24 a.m.
Officer Rose Michel also responded to the scene, alerted by a call about a man who was apparently asleep in his vehicle near the pumps at the gas station. When she spoke to Ulbin, she noticed a strong odor of alcohol from his breath, according to her report. She also noted Ulbin had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.
Ulbin said he’d consumed several alcoholic drinks at a friend’s house before driving to the Hess station, according to Michel’s report.
Michel asked him to perform a series of field sobriety tests, which he refused to participate in. Ulbin refused to answer questions and ignored instructions during the vision test, ultimately refusing to perform any tests.
Michel arrested Ulbin, charing him with driving under the influence, and transported him to Warwick Police headquarters, where he also refused to submit to a breathalyzer test.
Michel cited Ulbin with refusal to submit to a chemical test, and charged him with DUI second offense (the first was April 22, 2010), blood alcohol content unknown. Ulbin was ultimately released to a sober adult.
Ulbin is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on the charges Feb. 11 in Third District Court.
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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