OUI Suspect 'Held Down' After Attempting to Flee Crash in Somerville: Police

SOMERVILLE, MA – Two men were arrested in Somerville over the weekend in separate OUI-related incidents, according to Somerville police records. One, police said, had to be held down to prevent him from leaving the scene of a crash.

Bruce Edmond, 28, of Lowell, was arrested around 11:30 p.m. Friday after a crash on Leland Street. Officers were told the collision possibly involved a drunk driver, who was being held down by the owner of the second car in order to keep him from fleeing.

Police arrived to find Edmond leaning up against a fence and another man standing in front of him. The second man told police he was in his home and heard a loud crashing sound. He looked out the window and saw a red Jeep crashed into his parked car. Edmond allegedly opened the door and fell onto the ground before attempting to get up and flee the scene, he told police.

The man went outside and "physically restrained" Edmond from leaving, police said. Once officers arrived, Edmond was asked if he had been drinking and he did not answer. Eventually, he replied, "I don't know what you're talking about," according to the report.

Police said Edmond's eyes were bloodshot and glossy and he was unsteady on his feet. When asked if he would perform a field sobriety test, Edmond remained silent and shook his head. He was taken into custody and charged with operating under the influence of liquor.

John Moriarty, 25, was arrested Sunday morning at 2:54 a.m. following a traffic stop on McGrath Highway. Police said Moriarty, driving a black Toyota Corolla, drove through the red lights at the intersection of Pearl Street, McGrath and Otis Street.

Moriarty opened the door and told police he could not roll his windows down. Police said a strong odor of alcohol was coming from the vehicle and Moriarty's eyes were dilated and glassy. Police asked where he was coming from and he replied, "a party at a friend's house."

Moriarty refused to answer any more questions once officers asked if he had been drinking that night. When confronted about the smell of alcohol, he told police, "yes, two or three beers," according to the report.

Moriarty agreed to a field sobriety test. Based on the results, he was placed under arrest and charged with operating under the influence of liquor and failure to stop or yield. During his arrest, he refused a breath test, police said.

Editor's Note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Somerville Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a Massachusetts Patch police report.

Image via Shutterstock