Man Charged With Drunk Driving After Assembly Row Altercation

SOMERVILLE, MA – Somerville police charged a man with drunk driving Sunday evening after he allegedly smashed through a garage gate at Assembly Row and smacked the phone out of the parking attendant's hand. Justin Zompanti, 37, of Lynnfield, allegedly fled the scene and ran into the bathroom of a nearby restaurant, according to the police report.

Officers spoke to the manager at the restaurant, who said she had seen a seemingly confused and drunk man trying to walk into the kitchen area. He told her he was looking for the bathroom. The man matched the description of suspect provided by Assembly Row security, police said.

Police knocked on a stall door, and Zompanti opened it. According to the report, his eyes were bloodshot and glassy and he had a smell of alcohol coming from his breath. He speech was also slowed and slurred, police said. Officers asked him where he was coming from and he said he was meeting friends.

Zompanti was placed into handcuffs and brought outside, where he refused to sit on the curb after multiple requests from officers, the report stated. Police sat him down using "minimal force."

Zompanti told police the issue in the garage was a "misunderstanding" due to an argument he had with an attendant. He said he had seen the new Avengers movie at a theater in New Hampshire and driven to Assembly Row to meet friends. He told officers he only had a "couple" of beers and agreed to sobriety tests.

Due to the results of the test, Zompanti was charged with operating under the influence of liquor and malicious destruction of property over $250.

Image via Shutterstock