Crime & Safety

Leaping Lizards? Woman With Reptile In Bra Charged In OUI Crash, Police Take To Facebook

A Newton woman was charged with drunk driving in Taunton. But it was the interaction that had police venting on social media.

NEWTON, MA — There's no doubt local police have to deal with a lot of different types of people and calls, including some very serious and sad ones. But a call that came into the Taunton Police yesterday about a unique car crash had them shaking their heads in disbelief as one twist lead to the next. No one was seriously injured, but it did lead to one arrest, one confiscation of a bearded lizard and one gun scare; so they posted about it on Facebook.

"It almost sounds like a comedy skit," wrote one person in a comment under the post.

When Taunton Police arrived at the crash they saw a woman standing next to a 1999 Mercedes C280 tucked into some trees on a front lawn and a man in the driver seat attempting to get it back on the road.

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"That may have been possible if all four tires hadn’t been flattened in the crash, if all the airbags hadn’t deployed and both bumpers hadn’t been ripped off," said police on Facebook, one of a couple jabs they took at the situation.

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When officers approached the woman, Amy Rebello-McCarthy, 39, of Newton, she began laughing. Police said she was slurring her words and at times drooling. But she asked them to call a tow truck to pull the car to the roadway so they could be on their way.

"Sorry Amy, we can't move the car right now. If we do, what will you use to hold yourself up?," wrote police.

Officers also spoke to the man who had been trying to get the car out from the trees. He couldn't remember his name, and was also slurring, was smoking near the car, which was leaking gas by this time, and an officer noticed he had what appeared to be a semi-automatic weapon tucked in the rear of his waistband.

"Let’s recap for just a moment!! Two very intoxicated people in a car crash, neither of them coherent, unsteady on their feet, slurring and drooling. If that’s not a bad start, let’s throw the gun into the equation," police vented on Facebook.

Police arrested Amy Rebello-McCarthy and charged her with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor, driving to endanger and a marked lane violation.

But before she was arrested she let police know she had a Bearded Dragon Lizard - in her bra.

"The Bearded Dragon Lizard was transferred to the Taunton Police Department and turned over to the Animal Control Officer. It faces no charges at this time," wrote police. End Scene.

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If you're so inclined, here's the full post below taken from the Taunton Police Department's Facebook page:

"On Tuesday, May 15 at 1:23 p.m. in the afternoon the Taunton Police Department was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash in the area of 501 Staple Street. The witnesses to the crash stated that the female that was driving the car was out, standing next to the vehicle, while her male friend jumped into the driver’s side to attempt to drive the vehicle from the front lawn back to the road.

"That may have been possible if all four tires hadn’t been flattened in the crash, if all the airbags hadn’t deployed and both bumpers hadn’t been ripped off.
The Officers attempted to speak with Amy Rebello-McCarthy, 39, the driver with a current address of Newton. Amy was a Taunton resident for many years. When they approached her she began laughing and didn’t feel the crash was that serious. She was slurring her words and at times drooling. Amy requested from the Officers they call a Tow Truck to pull the 1999 Mercedes C280 to the roadway so they could be on their way.
Sorry Amy, we can't move the car right now. If we do, what will you use to hold yourself up?
Stay right there Amy, we want to speak with the guy that was trying to get your vehicle unstuck from the trees. The Officers went to speak to the male party standing at the rear of the vehicle smoking a cigarette which was strongly discouraged considering the gas was leaking from the vehicle.
Well, needless to say that didn’t go very well either. He couldn’t recall his first or last name as he slurred his way through the conversation. He was feeling a little antsy and decided to move away from the vehicle. When he did Officer McDougall observed the butt of a semi-automatic weapon tucked in the rear of his waistband.
Let’s recap for just a moment!! Two very intoxicated people in a car crash, neither of them coherent, unsteady on their feet, slurring and drooling. If that’s not a bad start, let’s throw the gun into the equation. The male party was taken to the ground and handcuffed. The gun was removed from his waist.
At the crash scene it was determined that Amy was driving her 1999 Mercedes on Staple Street at a speed greater than reasonable and proper, left the roadway, struck numerous (6) mailboxes, some of which went airborne and smashed the rear window of a vehicle parked in a driveway along the way, crossed the street onto lawn and wiped out the homeowners new well cover.
Prior to transporting the parties to the police department Amy revealed that she was in possession of a Bearded Dragon Lizard. (You can't make this stuff up)
Where does one hold a Bearded Dragon Lizard while driving you ask?
Answer: In their brassiere of course!! The Bearded Dragon Lizard was transferred to the Taunton Police Department and turned over to the Animal Control Officer. It faces no charges at this time.
Both subjects were transported back to the police station.
Amy Rebello-McCarthy was arrested and charged with: 1.Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of – Liquor. 2. Driving to Endanger. 3. Marked Lane Violation
Amy was just shy of doubling the legal limit of 0.08.
The male party has recalled his name as Marvin K. Kyewalyanga, 22 of Waltham. The weapon in his waistband was identified as an air soft replica. He was placed in Protective Custody."

Photos via PD

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