On July 15, 2018 at approximately 11:55 PM, I (Officer Mark Nevin / West 6) was sitting in the driver’s seat of my assigned cruiser waiting for my relief. My cruiser was parked facing West on Kidder Avenue about 100 feet from the intersection of Kidder Avenue and Willow Avenue. The weather was clear and the intersection was well lit by street lamps and my cruiser’s head lamps. All streets involved in this incident are public ways in the City of Somerville.

I observed a black sports car (later identified as a Dodge Charger with NH registration xxxx) speeding toward the intersection heading North on Willow Avenue. The intersection is a four-way stop and is raised to slow traffic. This area is in a school zone and the posted speed limit is 20 M.P.H. The car bounced hard when it hit the raised intersection and then the car took off like a shot with the tires squealing loudly. I immediately activated my cruiser’s emergency lights and siren and pursued the car northbound on Willow Avenue. By the time I drove 100 feet to the intersection and turned onto Willow Avenue the car had almost reached the terminal intersection of Willow Avenue at Broadway. I observed the car turn right on Broadway without stopping at the stop light. The car disappeared after I turned the corner. At the next intersection I observed two helpful citizens at the intersection of Broadway and Josephine Avenue frantically waving their arms and directing me to go down Josephine Avenue. Josephine Avenue from Broadway is a one-way street. I turned down Josephine Avenue and observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed ahead of me. It turned right on Kidder Avenue and came to stop almost exactly where my cruiser was parked when I first observed the car run its first stop sign. I notified Dispatch of the car stop and approached the car.

The driver (later identified as Peter McIlroy) opened his car door as I approached and began to exit his car. I told him to stay in the car, which he did. But, he attempted to exit the car several times as we were talking. Through the open driver’s windows, I reiterated my instructions several times for him to remain in his car. The stench of his car’s burning brakes was very strong at first, but as it dissipated I detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from the driver. I also observed the driver’s eyes to glassy and his speech slurred.

I asked Mr. McIlroy why he was driving so crazily and he responded by telling me that the car is his girlfriend’s. I asked him why he ran the stop sign and was driving so fast. He said he did not know he was driving fast. I instructed him to turn off the motor, which he did, but it took him two attempts to find the off switch. At this point my relief (Officer P. Beckford) arrived and shortly after Officer Canty.

I ordered Mr. McIlroy to exit his car and to go to the sidewalk. I explained to the driver that I suspected he had been drinking and would like him to perform a field sobriety test. He told me that his lawyer told him to never do that. I then explained to him that if he did not comply with the tests I would arrest him for OUI alcohol. He refused to cooperate with the test, so I placed him into custody and requested the prisoner transport wagon and permission from the street supervisor to tow the defendant’s car. I performed an inventory of the motor vehicle and found nothing of value. Officer Beckford called-in the damage and inventory to Dispatch and advised the tow truck driver to place a 12 hour hold on the vehicle.

While we were waiting for the prisoner transport wagon Mr. McIlroy repeatedly asked that we put him in contact with his lawyer several different ways:

1) Could you please take me to my lawyer?

2) Can you bring my lawyer to me?

3) Can I call my lawyer?

4) I would like to call my lawyer?

5) I would love my lawyer to come here.

Each time he asked we explained that he would get his phone call after he is booked at the station, but he did not understand our responses or was unable to comprehend them. Mr. McIlroy also stated that we were harassing him. All he was doing was walking home.

Mr. McIlroy was transported to the station in the prisoner transport wagon by Officer Sergio Costa. When asked at the booking window if he would take the blood alcohol test, Mr. McIlroy responded “Go fuck yourself!” He was not helpful with the booking process, so it was suspended until he is more cooperative.

Mr. McIlroy was issued two criminal citations (T0402591 and T0402592) for the following charges:

89/9 Disregarding a Traffic Control Signal (Stop Sign)

89/9 Disregarding a Traffic Control Signal (Stop Light)

90/24 Reckless Driving

90/18 Speeding 55 in 20

90/16 One-way Violation 90/24 OUI Alcohol

The Breath Test Report Form verifying that Mr. McIlroy refused to take the test was completed by Officer Sergio Costa and witnessed by Officer Dervishian. Mr. McIlroy’s driver’s license was immediately revoked.

Respectfully submitted by,

Officer Mark Nevin #300

Somerville Police Department