WPD Arrests Speeding Driver on DUI Charge

WARWICK, RI — Officer Derek Mourato was assigned to RIPTIDE (Rhode Island Police Teaming for Impaired Driving Enforcement) duty Sept. 9 at 7:48 p.m. when the dispatcher alerted him to a possible drunk driver swerving at 70 mph on Rte. 95, whom he pulled over and arrested on a DUI charge.

Mourato drove to Rte. 95 in the area of exit 8, finding the vehicle, a blue 2001 Jeep Cherokee, swerving left, nearly colliding with the median before correcting itself, according to his report.

Mourato pulled the Jeep over and watched as it continued to swerve while it pulled to the right into the breakdown lane, nearly colliding with other vehicles.

Mourato and his partner, Officer Russell Brown, exited their cruiser and spoke with the driver, identifying him as Paul Guarino, 22, of 132 Holliston St., Medway, MA. Mourato reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol coming from the car.

When asked if he’d had any alcohol that night,Guarino said he’d had a few drinks with friends in Narragansett, Mourato reported. Mourato wrote he could smell alcohol coming from Guarino’s breath as the driver spoke. Guarino also had bloodshot, watery eyes and slurred speech, Mourato reported.

A series of sobriety tests showed a lack of pursuit and involuntary eye movements in Guarino’s vision, waved his arms and lost his balance during a walk and turn test, and was unable to balance on one foot, according to Mourato’s report.

Mourato arrested Guarino on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and transported him to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive. A breath test returned a blood alcohol content reading of .159 and .154 on separate tests.

Mourato charged Guarino with driving under the influence of alcohol, .15 or greater, and a lane violation.