On Friday, October 21st, 2016 at approximately 7:28 p.m., I, Officer Goncalves, while in full uniform and assigned to area East 4, was dispatched to the intersection of Bond St. and Jacques St. for a motor vehicle accident involving one vehicle who had crashed into a tree. Officers Messaoudi (East 1), Rivera (East 3) Difava (West 5) and McNally (Tango 2) also responded.

 

Upon my arrival, I observed a 2016 Volkswagon GTI with heavy front end damage and multiple airbags deployed parked in the middle of the street directly in front of 38 Bond St. (a public way in the city of Somerville). I then noticed Officers Rivera and Difava standing on the sidewalk, talking to a male later identified as Louis Shropshire. Mr. Shropshire is the registered owner of this vehicle.

 

I approached Mr. Shropshire and asked him what had happened. He stated he was driving down Jaques St. and was attempting to turn onto Bond St. when he lost control of the vehicle and struck the tree directly in front of 38 Bond St. As Mr. Shropshire was speaking to me I could smell a strong odor of what appeared to be an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath and person. I asked Mr. Shropshire how much he had to drink to which he stated “I just had two drinks.” As I continued my conversation with Mr. Shropshire, I noticed he was unsteady on his feet and would occasionally sway backwards to the point where I would assist him by holding him in place.

 

I then asked Mr. Shropshire if he would be willing to perform Field Sobriety Tests to which he stated “I am not going to do any test.” Officer McNally then began to ask Mr. Shropshire questions he would need answered in order to complete his accident report. Officer McNally asked Mr. Shropshire if the vehicle was his vehicle and if it was registered to him to which Mr. Shropshire replied yes. Officer McNally then asked Mr. Shropshire if anyone else was driving this vehicle tonight to which he stated “No, I was driving it.” Officer McNally then asked Mr. Shropshire if he knew where the keys to the vehicle were (for the purpose of efficiently towing the vehicle) to which Mr. Shropshire stated that he had the keys in his pants pocket. Officer McNally recovered the keys to the vehicle in Mr. Shropshire’s front left pants pocket.

 

I then had the opportunity to speak to a witness identified as XXXXX who was the initial reporting party. XXXXX stated he was inside his residence when he heard a loud bang, he came outside and saw that a vehicle had crashed into the tree located in front of 38 Bond St. He stated he could see a male party in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. He then dialed 911.

 

At this time, Cataldo Ambulance evaluated Mr. Shropshire and medically cleared him. He signed the proper medical refusal form.

 

Based on the above information, I placed Mr. Shropshire under arrest for the violation of M.G.L c90 s24, Operating under the Influence of Alcohol and issued him MA Uniform Citation #R7883066. He was searched and transported by Officer Hartsgrove in marked transport wagon #200 to Somerville Police Headquarters. He was booked in the usual manner by Lt. Rymill and read his rights. Officers Teeves and Hartsgrove administered the Blood Alcohol Test (BAT) to Mr. Shropshire, with a test result of 0.19% BAC.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Officer C. Goncalves, #314