CHARLEMONT — A 65-year-old Charlemont man was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol for a fourth offense after police say he crashed his car into a field and tried to walk home.
Barry Edward Sanderson of Thunder Lane was arraigned in Greenfield District Court Tuesday. He was also charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
According to a report by Charlemont Police Sgt. Melinda Herzig, police received a report of a motor vehicle that had crashed into a field Sunday night. The witness said the operator appeared to be “very intoxicated” and tried to leave the scene.
Upon arrival, Herzig wrote she saw Sanderson walking toward his home on Thunder Lane. According to the report, he told police he was returning from Mohawk Park after having dinner. When asked why he had a bad bruise on his right eye, Sanderson allegedly told Herzig that nothing had happened to it.
During the conversation, Herzig noted that Sanderson was swaying from side to side, had bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol was coming from his breath. Police also found a red cup containing a beverage with ice and an empty whiskey nip bottle at the scene of the crash, according to the report.
Sanderson was placed under arrest and refused to take a breath test, according to the report, and acted belligerent toward an EMT who came to look at his bruised eye during booking.
He was released on personal recognizance following his arrest and arraignment, and is due back in court Oct. 24 for a pretrial conference.