RUMFORD – Nine people were either arrested or summoned after the first drunken driving and safety check roadblocks conducted last weekend by Rumford police and a state trooper.
“It was a good night,” Acting Chief David Bean said Wednesday afternoon of Friday night’s and early Saturday morning’s stops on Route 2 and Lincoln Avenue.
Bean, a sergeant, took over this week for Chief Stacy Carter, who is on vacation.
Patrolman Paul Casey, the department’s operating-under-the-influence Enforcement Program officer, stated in a Monday news release, the roadblocks proved that alcohol-related traffic offenses continue to occur here.
“I would call this particular roadblock a success,” he said.
Late last year, Rumford police seeking to combat drunken driving, applied for a $5,000 OUI enforcement grant from the Department of Public Safety. Earlier this year, they received $4,700, which is being used to pay overtime costs for officers conducting OUI saturation patrols and roadblocks.
Casey said Rumford police “are committed to maintaining safe travel ways for its citizens and visitors, alike. These roadblocks are one way of achieving this through a proactive approach.”
In addition to intoxicated drivers, police are looking for evidence of drug use on area highways and vehicle safety violations. Casey said officers stopped several hundred vehicles.
One driver ran the Lincoln Avenue roadblock shortly before 12:50 a.m., nearly striking several officers, Casey said.
Bean said a half-mile chase ensued, ending when the driver stopped the 1991 Nissan Pathfinder, which is owned by his passenger, and ran into the woods off Carlton Avenue.
Police towed the sport-utility vehicle because they arrested its owner, Travis J. Dragoon, 20, of Rumford, on a charge of hindering apprehension or prosecution. Casey said Dragoon failed to cooperate with pursuing officers.
Dragoon was released on $140 cash bail and is to be arraigned Sept. 5 in Rumford District Court.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the driver, whom Casey said was identified by police, had not been located.
Most drivers who were detained, Casey added, responded favorably to the roadblocks.
“Officers found that most motorists encouraged this type of proactive enforcement and were glad that officers were dedicating their time to check for impaired operators,” he said.
Those arrested and charged with operating under the influence, were:
• James Bouthot, 47, Rumford, 1:50 a.m. July 22 on Lincoln Avenue. He was released on $700 unsecured bail.
• Mark Pulsifer, 46, Mexico, 1:50 a.m. July 22 on Lincoln Avenue. He was released on $500 unsecured bail.
• Jeremy L. Gallant, 31, Rumford, 1 a.m. July 22 on Lincoln Avenue. He was released on $1,000 unsecured bail.
• Brandon M. Robin, 28, Rumford, 10:05 p.m. July 21 on Route 2. He was released on $700 unsecured bail.
All four are to be arraigned on Oct. 3 in Rumford District Court.
Those summoned to appear in court, were:
• Christina Tibbetts, 28, Rumford, operating under the influence, 1:40 a.m. July 22 on Lincoln Avenue. She is to be arraigned on Oct. 3 in Rumford District Court.
• Samantha M. Paul, 22, Rumford, possession of marijuana, 10 p.m. July 21 on Route 2.
• Jennifer Malchisky, 24, Dixfield, possession of marijuana, 9:55 p.m. July 21 on Route 2.
• Thomas Akerson, 28, Rumford, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, 9:40 p.m. July 21 on Route 2.
Paul, Malchisky and Akerson are to be arraigned on Sept. 5 in Rumford District Court.
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