The following is a summary of the details related to this incident.

 

     On November 24, 2016 at approximately 18:06 hours, while assigned as marked unit West-7, I was dispatched to the Gulf Mart Plus located at 379 Alewife Brook Parkway to check the condition of an unresponsive male inside of a motor vehicle. Dispatch informed me that there was a male sitting inside of a gray Hyundai Elantra that appeared to be unconscious. Dispatch updated that the gray Hyundai Elantra bearing New Hampshire registration plates had been reported stolen. 

 

     I arrived on scene with marked unit West-6, Officer Messaoudi and West-5 Officer Ruf arrived to assist. I observed the vehicle in question parked in the lot, but not inside of a marked parking space. The male inside the vehicle was behind the wheel slouched over, apparently asleep, with a 25 ounce can of Natural Ice beer in his hand. The vehicle was running at this time with the key inside of the ignition and the radio on at a very high volume. The doors to the vehicle were unlocked. I opened the passenger side door and reached into the vehicle and removed the key from the ignition. Officer Messaoudi then opened the driver side door and asked the male to exit the vehicle. 

 

     Upon exiting the vehicle, I observed the male to be unsteady on his feet, that his eyes were glassy and bloodshot, and there was an odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from his person. He was identified using his Pennsylvania Identification Card as Ralph Ramsey. A query of Ramsey in my mobile data terminal revealed his driver’s license was suspended out of Pennsylvania. I asked Ramsey who the vehicle belonged to and he stated that it was his girlfriend’s. I asked him if she was aware that he had the vehicle and he was unsure. Ramsey stated that he and his girlfriend, who he has been staying with, got into an argument today and he left the house and took the vehicle. Ramsey could not provide detail on whether he had permission to have the vehicle or what time he left the house in New Hampshire. Ramsey also could not explain what brought him to Somerville or why he was parked in the Gulf parking lot. A check of the vehicle’s registration confirmed that the vehicle had been reported stolen earlier in the day.

 

     I then asked Ramsey how much he had to drink today and he struggled to answer. After a few moments of him not being able to answer I then asked Ramsey if it was fair to say that he had more to drink today than he normally would to which he exclaimed, “Yes!” It should be noted that the 25 ounce can of Natural Ice beer in Ramsey’s hand when I first observed him was more than half empty and there were two full unopened cans of 25 ounce Natural Ice beer in the back seat. It should also be noted the Gulf parking lot where Ramsey was parked is a parking lot which the public has a right of access. At this time I asked Ramsey to submit to standardized field sobriety tests to which he refused. At this time Ramsey was placed into custody. Ramsey was transported back to Somerville Police Headquarters by unit #200, Officer Pavao, where he was booked by Lt. DeOliveira. The Hyundai Elantra was towed by Pat’s Towing in accordance with departmental procedure.

 

     Upon being booked, Ramsey submitted to a breathalyzer test in which his blood alcohol content result showed to be 0.1712. Ralph Ramsey is charged with violation of M.G.L. ch. 266 §28 Larceny of a motor vehicle, violation of M.G.L. ch. 90 §24 Operating under the influence, violation of M.G.L. ch. 90 §24I Open container in a vehicle, and violation of M.G.L. ch. 90 §10 Unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Officer Anderson #315