MA Man Drunkenly Drives Onto Lawns, Hits A Light Pole: Tiverton Police

TIVERTON, RI — A Massachusetts man was arrested Thursday after Tiverton police said he drunkenly drove over several people's lawns and knocked over a light post.

Brian Brown, 35, of Raynham, Massachusetts, was charged with DUI of liquor (blood alcohol concentration unknown).

Around 11:23 p.m., Tiverton police were called to the area of Black Bird Court for a report of an erratic driver. When an officer arrived, several witnesses said a Gray SUV with a Massachusetts license plate had driven over several lawns and knocked over a light post.

Police checked the surrounding neighborhoods and discovered a vehicle matching the description stopped at the intersection of Blackbird Street and Lark Lane. Police said the driver, Brown, was unresponsive and slumped over the steering wheel. According to police, the SUV was running, in drive, the doors were locked, and Brown had his foot on the brake.

Police said they banged on Brown's window and instructed him to put the car in park. After several minutes, Brown raised his head and began driving forward, police said.

Police said Brown's SUV nearly crashed into a police cruiser, and he continued driving toward a house. An officer chased the SUV on foot, and commanded him to stop. Fearing Brown would strike the house, an officer broke the driver's side window, reached into the vehicle, put it into park, and removed the keys from the ignition, police said. Police said Brown was then forcibly removed from the SUV and placed into handcuffs.

While speaking with Brown, officers could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath, police said. He admitted to drinking alcohol earlier that evening, and officers found several empty alcohol bottles in his car, police said.

Police said Brown refused to take field sobriety tests. He later took a breath test, which showed a BAC of 0.211, according to police.

Brown was later taken to Newport Hospital for an unrelated medical condition. This incident remains under investigation, and additional charges are anticipated, police said.

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