Early this morning around 12:53AM, officers from District C-11 (Dorchester) were on patrol in the area of Dorchester Ave and Park St. when they observed a pick-up truck weaving and being operated on the wrong side of the road.
Officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and requested a copy of the operator’s license and registration. During the initial conversation, officers immediately detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the suspect’s breath. Officers asked the suspect/operator where he was coming from and he stated to officers that he had just left a bar where he consumed about four (4) beers. After telling officers this, the suspect told officers that didn’t live too far and just wanted to go home. During this continuing conversation, officers noticed that the suspect was slurring his speech in addition to smelling like alcohol.
Officers, believing that the suspect was operating under the influence of alcohol, asked him to step out of his car in order to perform some field sobriety tests. While exiting his car, the suspect was unsteady on his feet and had to place his hand on his car to maintain his balance. Officers then provided the suspect with instructions for the tests. While providing the suspect instructions for the tests, the suspect consistently interrupted officers and failed to follow instructions. After some time, officers were able to provide instructions and directions to the suspect who failed all three tests given to him.
Having failed all three tests given to him, officers formed the belief that the suspect’s right to safely operate his car was substantially diminished due to consumption of alcohol. The suspect, Barry Rampersad, 40 of Dorchester was placed under arrest and charged with Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol and issued a citation for Failure to Stay to the Right and Weaving Between Lanes.