Portsmouth Man Drunkenly Crashes Into Middletown Officer's Truck: PD

PORTSMOUTH, RI — A Portsmouth man was arrested Friday night after police said he drunkenly crashed head-on into a Middletown police officer who was on their way to work.

Celio Da Silva Aleixo, 39, was charged by Portsmouth police with DUI resulting in serious bodily injury and refusal to submit to a chemical test. He was arraigned in Second District Court on Monday morning.

Around 10:49 p.m., Portsmouth police were called to the East Main Road and Sea Meadow Drive area for a report of a head-on collision.

According to police, Da Silva crossed the double yellow lines on East Main Road and hit a pickup truck head-on. The truck was driven by Middletown police Lt. David Bissonette, who was on his way to work at the time of the crash, police said.

Police said Bissonnette suffered serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

Portsmouth police said Aleixo showed signs of alcohol impairment at the scene of the crash. In court, Det. Jean Stewart said Aleixo had an open bottle of tequila inside his car, WPRI 12 report.

Aleixo was arrested after failing a field sobriety test, police said. He was released on $5,000 bail with the condition his license be suspended. Aleixo was scheduled to return to court on May 25.