11 DUI Arrests Made Over St. Patrick's Day Weekend

Alcohol or drugs are being blamed for 11 traffic arrests by Rhode Island State Police over the course of Saint Patrick's Day weekend. In Johnston, one driver was going the wrong way on Interstate 295, while another was recorded driving over 100 miles per hour on Interstate 95 in Providence.

All of the arrests were made between Saturday and 6 a.m. Monday.

Saturday

Francesco Rizzo, 67, of Warwick, was arrested at approximately 11:10 p.m. after police say he drove 105 miles per hour on Interstate 95 South in Providence. The driver, identified as Mr. Rizzo, was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs, blood alcohol content unknown, first offense and refusal to submit to a chemical test. He also was charged with speeding and other traffic violations.

Harshal Patel, 22, of Providence, was arrested at approximately 9:50 p.m. after troopers stopped his vehicle on Interstate 95 in Cranston for speeding and operating erratically. He was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, first offense, blood alcohol content of .10-.15 and ticketed for speeding and other traffic violations.

Justin C. Raymond, 33, of South Kingstown, was arrested at approximately 9:45 p.m. after troopers stopped him for not moving out of the way for a marked police car stopped on the side of the road on Route 138 West in North Kingstown. He was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, first offense, blood alcohol content of .10-.15. Raymond was also charged with not moving over for an emergency vehicle, not wearing a seat belt and for having alcohol in his vehicle.

State Police say Julio Garcia, 58, of Cranston, was arrested at approximately 2:30 a.m. after he was seen swerving on Interstate 95 in Cranston. He was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs, blood alcohol content unknown, first offense and refusal to submit to a chemical test, as well as for not using his turn signal and other traffic violations.

After driving more than 80 miles per hour on I-95 in Warwick, where the speed limit is 55 mph, Corey Lemay, 24, of Cranston, was arrested around 1:40 a.m. He was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs, blood alcohol content unknown, first offense, and refusal to submit to a chemical test, as well as ticketed for speeding and breaking other rules of the road.

Sunday

State troopers pulled over Jasmine Fortes, 27, of Central Falls, around 12:40 a.m. for erratic driving on Interstate 95 in Pawtucket. She was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, first offense, blood alcohol content of .15 or higher, as well as for driving on a suspended license, lack of seat belts on both her and her passenger and other traffic violations. Police also discovered she was wanted on a bench warrant for failing to appear in Third District Court for a previous charge of theft.

Aaryn Cardoza, 28, of Providence, was arrested around 1:45 a.m. on Route 6 in Johnston. She was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, first offense, blood alcohol level of of .10-.15, as well as other traffic violations.

Alexander Lonardo, 24, of Johnston, was stopped by state troopers for speeding on Interstate 95 in Warwick around 2 a.m. and charged with driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, first offense, blood alcohol level of .08 to .10 and speeding.

Charles Gasrow, 63, of Cumberland, was stopped by police as he exited Interstate 295 in Cumberland onto Mendon Road after they had received multiple 911 calls reporting an erratic driver. Gasrow was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, first offense, blood alcohol content of .10-.15. and other traffic violations.

Hailey Sousa, 21, of Swansea, Massachusetts, was stopped by police on Route 6 in Johnston around 11:40 p.m. following 911 calls of an erratic driver. Sousa was charged with with driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs, blood alcohol content unknown, first offense, and refusal to submit to a chemical test. She also was cited for leaving the lane of travel, traffic violations and for not using her turn signal.

Monday

Around 3:30 a.m. on Monday, police received several 911 calls reporting a wrong-way driver on Route 6 and Interstate 295 in Johnston. Hector Martin Rodriguez Montufar, 35, of Providence, was stopped by Smithfield Police aand state troopers while driving north on Interstate 295 South. He was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, first offense, blood alcohol content of .15 or greater.