WARWICK, RI — Officers Jeremy Smith and Christopher Cote were called to 720 West Shore Road Aug. 6 at 3:42 a.m. for a crash, arresting the driver of a silver 2000 BMW on a DUI charge.
Smith arrived at the address to find the BMW had rear-ended another car before stopping a few feet from the building. The vehicle’s passenger was walking around the crash scene. The driver was still behind the wheel of the car, which had deployed all its air bags, Smith reported.
Smith spoke with the driver, who was able to exit the BMW on her own power. He identified the woman as Natalia Garcia, 33, of 144 Hudson St., Apt. 3, Providence, RI. As they spoke, Smith could smell an odor of alcohol on her breath, according to his report. Also, he said, she appeared unsteady on her feet, and had bloodshot, watery eyes.
Garcia told Smith she had just left the Salon Club in Providence, then had gone to Warwick beach, which she had left just before the crash.
Smith asked her to perform some sobriety tests, to which she agreed, demonstrating a lack of smooth pursuit and involuntary eye movement in her vision, miscounted the number of steps required during a walk and turn test, and was unable to balance safely on one foot, according to the officer’s report.
Smith arrested Garcia and transported her to Warwick Police Headquarters, where she registered a .171 and .164 successive breath tests of her blood alcohol. Smith charged her with DUI, first offense, blood alcohol .15 or greater, first offense, and lane violations.
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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