Girlfriend's Muscle Spasm Lands Tewksbury Man Behind Bars

LOWELL - Jarett E. McCann and his girlfriend were less than a mile from his Tewksbury home on Wednesday when sher suffered a debilitating muscle spasm and couldn't drive, McCann's attorney said.

McCann climbed behind the wheel and took over the driving duties for the last 11 minutes, defense attorney Ryan Sullivan said.

But McCann's luck was running on empty that day when a Chelmsford police officer doing a random license plate inquiry on Drum Hill Road showed the registration on the girlfriend's car was revoked due to a lack of insurance.

McCann's luck went from bad to worse when a check of McCann's driver's license showed it was suspended for five years for a chemical-test refusal after being charged with operating under the influence of alcohol - third offense in Ayer District Court.

Instead of heading home, McCann was headed to jail.

In Lowell District Court on Thursday, McCann, 39, of 304 Old Main St., Tewksbury, was ordered held on $750 cash bail after pleading not guilty to operating a motor vehicle with a license suspended for operating under the influence. He is scheduled for a pretrial conference on March 17.

Judge Thomas Brennan also revoked McCann's bail on the OUI-3 charge in Ayer, holding McCann without bail pending his next court date of March 21 in Ayer.

McCann's girlfriend, Jillian T. Lambert, of Dracut, was issued a citation for permitting a suspended operator to drive, uninsured motor vehicle, revoked registration, and an expired inspection sticker.

Photo by Lisa Redmond, Patch staff