WARWICK, RI — Officer James Wenneman was en route to Hobby Lobby at 945 Bald Hill Road for a report of a car crash where one of the cars, a red Kia Soul, had left the scene, when he spotted the car, pulled it over and eventually arrested the driver on hit & run and DUI charges.
Wenneman spotted the Kia traveling past him on Kinsu Way and pulled a U-turn, pulling the car over at 305 Quaker Lane.
When Wenneman approached the car, finding a man, later identified as Barrington Haggins, 49, of 3411 A St. SE, Washington, DC, in the driver’s seat. Wenneman noted a strong odor of alcohol on the man’s breath, that his eyes were bloodshot and that he slurred his speech, according to the officer’s report.
Haggins said his passenger, his girlfriend, had been driving the car at the time of the crash, and that after they’d stopped to inspect the damage and had switched seats at that time. Wenneman noted the passenger also appeared intoxicated.
The matter was rendered moot by a witness of the crash who identified Haggins as the driver at the time. This piece of information led to Wenneman inviting Haggins to a series of sobriety tests, which he did not perform well, according to the report.
Haggins demonstrated a lack of smooth pursuit in his vision, was unable to safely balance while attempting to walk a straight line, and refused to attempt the one-leg stand test.
Wenneman arrested Haggins on suspicion of DUI, and transported him to Warwick Police Headquarters, where he refused to take a breath test and was formally charged with DUI, leaving the scene of a crash which damaged property, and cited for refusing the breath test. He was also cited for driving without a license.
Wenneman contacted a responsible adult to take custody of the Kia and Haggins’ girlfriend.
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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