One police officer said the mayor was “hammered.”
By Mark LaFlamme
Staff Writer

AUBURN – A police report detailing the drunken-driving investigation of Mayor Normand Guay last week describes an off-balance mayor who weaved, stumbled and twice nearly fell down during a field sobriety test.

The 16-page document, obtained by the Sun Journal Monday night, also states the mayor told a police officer he had been taking prescription drugs at the time he was tested, contradicting remarks Guay made during a press conference after he was issued a court summons.

The police report spells out in step-by-step detail the circumstances that led to the mayor being taken in handcuffs to the police station and administered a Breathalyzer test.

Reached at home Monday night, Guay declined to comment on the report, beyond reiterating that he expects to be cleared of the charge through the judicial process.

Mayor Guay was taken into custody the night of Aug. 4 after a police officer stopped his car. The results of the Breathalyzer test showed his blood-alcohol level was .01 percent, far below the legal limit of .08. Guay was issued a summons despite the fact that he was not legally drunk. Police officials’ handling of the case has resulted in controversy, with some suggesting the incident was motivated by contract negotiations between police and the city.

Police who were present the night Guay was issued a summons were convinced the mayor was driving drunk, according to the report.

Several officers stated that Guay appeared impaired when he arrived at the City Building after leaving Gipper’s Sports Grill on Center Street.

Shortly before Guay was pulled over, Detective Chad Syphers and Officer Norm Letourneau – both off-duty and riding in Syphers’ truck – flagged down an on-duty police sergeant to report the mayor appeared “hammered,” according to the report.

Syphers is president of the local police union.

Auburn police Officer Matthew Prince was asked to keep an eye on the mayor as he left the city building. Prince wrote in the report that he saw the mayor get into his car and drive away while the officer was on the other side of the railroad tracks. The officer was unable to approach the mayor while a train was passing through, according to the document.

Prince later caught up with Guay’s vehicle and followed the mayor along Washington Street. In the report, Prince stated that Guay was driving erratically.

“While on Washington Street, I observed the vehicle drift over the right hand fog line on two occasions,” Prince wrote in the report. “While I was following the vehicle I noticed that the operator tapped the brakes causing the brake lights to activate on two separate occasions for no apparent reason.”

Prince activated his emergency lights and Guay pulled to a stop. It was during a field sobriety test that police say Guay most demonstrated signs of drunkenness. In the police report, Prince states he had asked Guay to stand outside his car and to raise one foot off the ground.

“Mr. Guay swung his left arm in the air to the side and above his head for balance,” Prince wrote. “He also hopped as if unable to maintain his balance. Mr. Guay counted to five-one thousand before nearly falling and placing his foot down.”

Prince also wrote that at one point, another officer had to move toward Guay to prevent the mayor from falling down while performing the test. He also said Guay was unable to complete a “walk-and-turn” task administered as part of the field sobriety test.

“As Mr. Guay walked forward, I noticed he was swaying and waving his arms out to the sides for balance,” Prince wrote. “At the seventh step, Mr. Guay staggered, leaned to his left and lost balance.”

Guay later said a corn on his foot may have hampered his ability to walk straight and maintain balance. He admitted having consumed three beers at Gipper’s and told an officer he was taking a prescription drug the night he was pulled over.

“I also heard Mr. Guay state that he was on medication for an intestinal infection,” Prince wrote.

That detail contradicts what Guay said in a press conference a day after he was summoned. During the conference, Guay said he had not taken medication since June.

The case against Guay is being investigated by Auburn police, the District Attorney’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office. Since his blood-alcohol level was far below the legal limit of .08 percent the night he was summoned, Guay said he expects the charge to be dropped.

“That process has started and I have faith in the process,” Guay said Monday. “I’m not going to comment any more than that.”

Syphers also declined to comment on the details contained in the police report.

Police gave Guay a ride home after issuing him a summons. His car was impounded shortly after he was stopped. A court date was set for Sept. 17.

mlaflamme@sunjournal.com

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