WPD: Driver on Curb Arrested for DUI

WARWICK, RI — A driver alerted Warwick Police to a white Chrysler Sebring on the curb at the intersection of Warwick Avenue and Lake Shore Drive May 10 at 11:33 p.m., its driver asleep, and about to be arrested on a DUI charge.

Officer Nicholas Demarco found the reporting driver, James Sisson, at the scene, flagging him down.  Sisson told Demarco he had been driving south on Warwick Avenue when he saw the car on the curb and turned around to check on the driver, who he saw was asleep at the wheel. Sisson called 911, according to Demarco’s report.

Demarco approached the driver, identified as Adam Colbert, 31, of 173 Bellevue Ave., Providence, and noted his car had damage to its front bumper, according to the report. Demarco started banging on the car’s windows to wake Colbert, and was still trying to rouse the driver when WFD Rescue arrived.

Demarco was able to wake Colbert with another officer’s help, but he appeared confused and unaware of his surroundings, according to the report. Colbert unlocked the car after several attempts. The WFD Rescue crew cleared Colbert of injuries, and the driver refused a trip to the hospital. He did accept an invite to take sobriety tests, though.

As Colbert got out of the car for the tests, Demarco noticed a 375 ml bottle of Don Julio Tequila in Colbert’s passenger seat. He also noted the driver was unsteady on his feet, his eyes were bloodshot, and his speech was slurred. Demarco could also smell alcohol coming from his breath. Colbert told the officer he was coming from Longhorn Steakhouse, and that he had drank four to five glasses of rum. When asked about the Tequila, Colbert added that he had had a shot earlier.

During the sobriety tests, Colbert demonstrated a lack of smooth pursuit and involuntary eye movement in his vision, was unable to balance safely on one foot, and swayed and put his foot down multiple times while attempting a one-leg stand.

Colbert also consented to a breath test, on which he registered a .183 and .181. Demarco charged him with DUI, .15 or greater, first offense, and drove him to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, for processing.