GREENFIELD — A 32-year-old Greenfield man was arrested on drunken driving and firearms-related charges after police stopped him for driving erratically downtown.
John Christopher Yackenchick of Prospect Street was arraigned on charges of operating under the influence of alcohol, three counts of possessing a firearm without a Firearms Identification Card, two counts of carrying a firearm without a license and a marked lanes violation in Greenfield District Court Monday.
Yackenchick was pulled over late Friday night after a Greenfield police officer observed his Toyota Camry driving erratically from Federal to Hope Street. According to a police report by Officer Michael McDowell, Yackenchick was stopped after failing to use his turn signal several times and crossing over the double yellow lines with both drivers-side tires.
Upon approaching the vehicle, McDowell wrote he could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the car, and the operator — identified as Yackenchick — spoke in a slow and dazed manner and his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, with extremely dilated pupils.
When asked if he had consumed any alcohol, Yackenchick told the officer he had “a couple of beers,” according to the report. A series of field sobriety tests indicated he was impaired, and Yackenchick was placed under arrest.
During an inventory of the vehicle, McDowell wrote that police found four firearms, including a loaded .357-caliber Magnum handgun in the center console, another handgun and two rifles secured in the trunk. They also located a box of .357-caliber ammunition, along with a partially loaded .22-caliber magazine for a firearm that was not in the car, according to the report.
Eight partially empty beer cans were also found in the vehicle, according to McDowell’s report, as well as other full cans of beer.
During booking, a breath test showed Yackenchick had a blood alcohol content of 0.19 percent — more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Bail was set at $10,000, and he was transported to the Franklin County Jail.
Yackenchick was released on personal recognizance following his arraignment, on the condition he does not possess firearms. He is due back in court Feb. 17 for a pretrial conference.