NK Man Charged with Driving while Drugged in EG

EAST GREENWICH, RI—A 24-year-old North Kingstown man was charged with driving under the influence in East Greenwich last week after he allegedly struck a telephone pole on Blueberry Drive.

Police said Brett J. Chupasko, 23, of 7 Haverhill Ave., North Kingstown, told officers that he took his eyes off the road while checking his GPS before the crash, which papned on Aug. 30 at around 5:45 p.m.

But police said they observed Chupasko acting "very nervous" as he paced around his car, occasionally stumbling, and repeatedly asking if he could get back in his car.

Police said they didn't' smell alcohol on his breath but his face was pale, his eyelids "displayed ptosis" and he spoke while mumbling his words. Eventually, police said, he admitted to ingesting "probably 10 Ativan" before failing a field sobriety test.

Chupasko was arrested without incident, transported to Rhode Island Hospital due to his ingesting multiple pills and later released with a summons to appear in court on Friday to answer to a charge of driving under the influence and marijuana possession. He is also due to appear at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal on Sept. 13 to answer to a charge of refusing a chemical test.