NK Police Log: Ambien Allegedly Causes Morning Car Crash

Ambien Allegedly Causes Accident on Post Road

Vincent J. Herchen, 43, of 73 Cedar Grove Drive in Exeter, was arrested Sept. 10 at 7:57 a.m. on charges of driving under the influence.

Herchen allegedly drove into a tree off of Post Road that morning after he was “blinded by the sun.” (Officers noted at this time the sun was out of the east and would not have interfered with southbound traffic.)

While speaking with Herchen, officers allege he was slurring his words, his pupils were constricted and he had small white granules throughout his mouth. According to reports, Herchen told officers he had taken an Ambien around midnight then took another Ambien and Oxycodone around 4:30 a.m. He then woke up 30 minutes later and drove to Lowe’s, just prior to the accident. Herchen allegedly later stated he realized the Ambien may have affected his ability to drive.

NK Man Brought to ACI After Alleged Assault

Jeremy Thurston, 34, of 4 State St., Apt. K in North Kingstown, was arrested Sept. 11 at 10:55 a.m. on charges of domestic assault, refusal to relinquish a phone, domestic disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Thurston allegedly assaulted a woman after she came home late from work. When the woman attempted to contact police, Thurston allegedly “ripped” the cell phone out of her hands and continued cursing at her. According to reports, Thurston briefly left the apartment, at which point the woman pushed the couch up against the door to stop him from reentering. According to the woman, Thurston was able to still get the door open and pushed the couch into her, pinning her against the wall.

Thurston then left the apartment again and the woman was able to lock him out and contacted a family member via Facebook. The family member arrived at the apartment and dialed police, at which point Thurston allegedly took his two-year-old son and made his way down the road where police eventually picked him up.

Thurston was allegedly not cooperative with police during his arrest, causing officers to threaten to use pepper spray on him if he did not comply. Though Thurston eventually entered the patrol car, he continued to scream and curse while in the car, allegedly yelling, “All the [expletive] NK cops are pieces of [expletive].”

Thurston was transported to the ACI after he was unable to post the $1,000 needed for bail.

Woman Allegedly Throws Mug at Man

Lisa Segerson, 30, of 655 Tower Hill Rd. in North Kingstown, was arrested Sept. 11 at 11:55 a.m. on charges of domestic assault and disorderly conduct.

Segerson reportedly threw her ceramic cup of coffee at a family member after he called her a “partier” for smoking marijuana that morning while drinking coffee. The man was not burned by the blue coffee mug, nor did the cup break.

Segerson, who carries a medical marijuana card, is charged with one count of domestic assault and one count of disorderly conduct.

She is set to appear in Third District Court on Oct. 4.