On March 29, 2009 at approximately 02:19 AM, Norton Police received a call reporting a vehicle had run off the roadway on Freeman Street at Gary Road. The caller reported the vehicle was parked on the sidewalk.
Ptlm. Charles Turcotte arrived and found a vehicle parked on the sidewalk, still running and headlights on. The passenger side of the vehicle had run over the granite curbing and the vehicle was resting on the sidewalk. Sgt. Robert Whitfield arrived to assist.
As Ptlm. Turcotte approached the vehicle, he located the operator of the vehicle, identified as:
Stephen Lucas, age 47, of 1 Bullock Drive, Norton MA
Lucas was found to be unconscious behind the wheel of the vehicle. Ptlm. Turcotte also observed a young boy, approximately nine years old, to be sleeping in the front passenger seat. After several attempts to wake Lucas, Ptlm. Turcotte was able to do so. Lucas was directed to place the vehicle in park and shut the vehicle off.
Ptlm. Turcotte observed Lucas to have red, glassy eyes and detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage being emitted by Lucas. Lucas speech was slurred and he had difficulty maintaining his balance as he spoke with Officers.
Officers conducted a series of field sobriety tests and Lucas was subsequently arrested and charged with the following:
Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol 2nd Offence
Child Endangerment with Under the Influence of Alcohol
Failure to Stay in Marked Lanes
Drinking Alcohol from an Open Container
The young boy was transported by police to the boy mother and released to her custody.
Lucas will be arraigned on Monday March 30, 2009 at Attleboro District Court.
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