An allegedly intoxicated Blackstone man was arrested early Thursday morning on four charges after several 911 calls reported a white pickup truck “doing doughnuts” in yards on Proctor Street and eventually becoming stuck in a backyard.
Zachary Walter Lemelin, 26, was arrested at 12:03 a.m. by Hopkinton Police Department officers, according to the police log. He was driving a white Toyota Tacoma truck. He was charged with operating under the influence of liquor. Other charges included reckless operation of a motor vehicle, malicious destruction of property over $1,200, and carrying a loaded firearm while under the influence of alcohol.
Lemelin was arraigned on these charges on Thursday morning in Framingham District Court, according to Hopkinton Police Sgt. Cody Normandin. He is to appear back in court on Feb. 13.
In a phone interview with the Independent on Friday morning, Normandin explained that one Proctor Street resident confronted Lemelin as police arrived.
Said Normandin: “The resident said he was ‘out of it.’ ”
When Lemelin exited the vehicle, officers saw a firearm on his waistband, according to Normandin. The report he read said the firearm was loaded.
“Because of the firearm, we didn’t perform a field sobriety test,” Normandin explained. “But the report said officers could smell alcohol on his breath. He was staring blankly and slurred his speech when trying to answer questions. He was arrested for his own safety.”
Carrying a loaded firearm while intoxicated “shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years, or by both such fine and imprisonment,” according to the mass.gov website.
Normandin added that the incident appeared to be random.
“At least six different yards were significantly damaged and torn up,” he said, noting the circular dirt patterns known as doughnuts. “The truck became stuck in the backyard at one home, which is where he was arrested.”
Art’s Towing in Milford was called to remove the vehicle early Thursday morning. The company had to bring additional tools to the site to winch out the truck.
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