On Friday, June 17, 2022, at 10:15 P.M., Somerville Police control received a 9-1-1 call from a person reporting her mother’s vehicle was struck by another vehicle near Memorial Rd in Somerville. The reporting party stated to the call-taker “This car just hit my mom’s car, and this man is drunk. He is drunk”. The reporting party told the call-taker the operator of the striking vehicle had left the scene and was walking into a building.

I responded to XX Memorial Rd along with Officer R. Lavey III; Detectives Pasqualino and Monaco; and SHA Officer Rymill. Upon arrival, I spoke with the reporting party who stated the motor vehicle crash occurred near 530 Mystic Ave., the male operator fled the scene, parked the vehicle near XX Memorial Rd, and walked to an apartment building with two children.

The reporting party provided the make, model, and color of the striking vehicle and showed me where it was parked. The reporting party also showed me a photograph of the male who was operating the striking vehicle at the time of the crash.

I queried the license plate of the striking vehicle (Massachusetts registration XXXX) and proceeded to the registered owner’s apartment along with Detective Pasqualino and SHA Officer Rymill. We knocked on the apartment door and a five-year-old boy answered the door. We asked the child to get his parents, and he stated: “My dad broke the car”. A male later identified as Carlos RAMOS came to the door. I explain to RAMOS the reason we were there and asked him to put a shirt on and come out and talk to me. When RAMOS put a shirt on, it was the same shirt he had on when compared to the photograph obtained from the reporting party.

While talking to RAMOS, I detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath; his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. I asked RAMOS if he consumed any alcoholic beverages and he replied “Yes, I had two Coronas at home”. I asked RAMOS to take a field sobriety test, to which he agreed. I explained, demonstrated all tests to RAMOS, and asked him if he understood, and he stated “Yes.” The test was administered in a parking lot, on a well-lit, flat, non-slippery surface.

The first test I administered was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN)
HGN:
During this test, I observed a lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes, distinct and sustained nystagmus in both eyes, and an angle of onset prior to 45 degrees in both eyes.

Walk and Turn test:
I instructed RAMOS to place his left foot on the line and put his right foot in front of it, with his right heel touching his left toe and to keep his hands by his side, then take nine heel-to-toe steps on the line, turn around keeping one foot on the line, and return nine heel-to-toe steps.
RAMOS lost his balance during the instructional phase; he took 22 steps, stepped off the line, did not perform the turn as instructed, and took 23 steps back.

One Leg Stand:
I instructed RAMOS to stand with his heels together and arms by his side, and raise one leg approximately six inches off the ground, foot parallel to the ground, keep both legs straight and keep eyes on the elevated foot, and while holding that position to count out loud; one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three, and so forth until told to stop.
While standing on his left foot, RAMOS swayed and put his foot down after two seconds. RAMOS raised his foot again for 23 seconds and failed to count.

Based on my observations, I placed RAMOS under arrest for OUI Liquor, unlicensed operation, and leaving the scene of property damage. He was transported to the Somerville Police Headquarters via unit 200, operated by Officer Pavao, and booked by Sergeant Marino. The vehicle was towed from the scene by Pats Tow.

During the booking process, Sergeant Marino advised RAMOS of his rights and asked him to submit to a chemical test of his breath. RAMOS was transported to the State Police barracks in Medford by Officers Radochia and Henriquez. Officer Radochia administered the test to RAMOS, with a test result of 0.10% BAC. Officer Henriquez who is fluent in Spanish interpreted for RAMOS during the booking process.

I issued citation# T1831149 to RAMOS for the above-mentioned offenses and placed it in his property bag along with a notice of suspension for a chemical test failure. The vehicle owner was issued a citation for allowing unlicensed opeartion of a motor vehicle.

A 51A was filed with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) since RAMOS had two children in the vehicle at the time of the incident and was driving under the influence of alcohol.

Respectfully submitted,

Ofc. Samir Messaoudi #312
Somerville Police Dept.