Mass. Man Speeding Down Main Street Charged with DUI

A 42-year-old Charlemont, Mass., man is facing charges of driving under the influence after he was stopped on Main Street after a traffic violation and nearly striking another vehicle.

On April 18, police said Andrew N. Falandes, 42, reportedly was driving at a high rate of speed on Post Road near Quonset when police got a report of an erratic driver.

Before long, an officer on patrol saw Falandes in his Mitsubishi Eclipse heading north on Main Street at a high rate of speed.

The officer saw Falandes drive straight through the left turn only lane on Main Street at First Avenue and nearly strike a car before veering to the right without using a turn signal.

Once stopped, police said Falandes smelled like alcohol and said he was coming from a beach in North Kingstown and had a few drinks during the day.

He said he had four or five nips while at the beach and a few drinks before that.

Falandes failed a field sobriety test at the scene and later registered a blood alcohol reading of .165 during a preliminary breath test at police headquarters.

He was arraigned and later released with an April 24 court date during which he pleaded innocent. The case was transferred to Superior Court and will be handled by the Attorney General’s office. He was released on $5,000 personal recognizance.