Alleged Drunk Driver Crashes Into Ditch, Cops Remove Keys

A Little Compton man received drunk driving, eluding and pot possession charges after he reportedly led Tiverton police on a chase last Friday night.

Jose Leite, 60, of 16 Maple Ave., Little Compton, was arrested at 8:53 p.m., Friday, Feb. 17, on South Lake Road. Leite was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol (first offense), eluding police (first offense), possession of marijuana (first offense), refusal to submit a chemical test and operating a motor vehicle on a suspended license.

Det. Michael Miguel said an officer was dispatched to the intersection of Main and Hambly roads after 8 p.m. Friday for a report of an erratic driver. The responding officers were reportedly traveling on East Road to Lake Road in an attempt to locate the vehicle. At that time, Miguel said officers saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Lake Road that fit the caller's description.

Miguel said officers saw the vehicle come to an "abrupt stop" at the intersection of Lake and East roads and then begin to "rapidly accelerate," swerving and nearly striking a mailbox on the right side of the roadway.

Miguel said officers turned on their emergency lights and siren in an attempt to stop the vehicle.

"The vehicle failed to stop for officers and continued traveling at a high rate of speed," he said. "The vehicle was swerving all over the roadway nearly striking passing motorists."

Officers continued trying to stop the vehicle, and it suddenly veered off the roadway into a ditch coming to a stop in the area of South Lake Road, just north of the Little Compton town line. Miguel said the responding officer exited his vehicle and attempted to make contact with the driver, later identified as Leite.

"The driver then attempted to drive the vehicle out of the ditch," Miguel said, noting the officer was forced to open the passenger door and order the driver to turn off the vehicle.

"He refused," Miguel said. "The officer reached in and turned off the ignition."

Upon making contact with Leite, officers say they noted a strong odor of alcohol.

Leite was arrested and during a search, police reportedly found marijuana. Miguel said that back at the station Leite refused to submit a chemical test.