Barefoot in Park: Man Charged With Drunken Driving After Seat Switch Fails To Fool Police

NEWPORT, RI — Police were called to Spring Street near Mary Street shortly after midnight Sunday morning. The caller, looking out his second floor window, saw a car hit a utility pole by 86 Spring St. When they arrived, they found a black car with front end damage and the struck pole. The car was legally parked with three inside. The key was in the ignition, and the engine was running. The woman sitting in the driver's seat was barefoot, however.

She told officers a car had pulled out of a side street. Attempting to avoid it, she struck the pole. The woman told police she'd had a couple of drinks. Officers said they did not smell liquor about her. She agreed to a field sobriety test, which she passed. But during the test, the original caller told police he had seen a man in the driver's seat leave the car and walk around to the passenger's seat. A blonde woman had been the front seat passenger, the caller said.

Police said the only side street was 200 feet south of the pole the woman claimed to have hit. They asked her if the car might have been exiting a driveway. But later, the woman and the passenger admitted he had bee driving, and they switched seats before police arrived.

John Marcello Parente, 54, of North Kingstown, was charged at 12:52 a.m. Sunday with Driving under the influence, first offense; and Refusal to submit to a chemical test. He was also cited for a lane violation and for Refusal to take a field sobriety test.