Illegal U-Turn, Vulgar Insult Toward Police Lieutenant Leads to Man's DUI Arrest

A city man's illegal U-turn early Friday morning in front of a police lieutenant patrolling Flax Hill Road led to his being arrested for drunk driving and interferring with an officer.

Lt. Willliam Lowe reported he was driving past 250 Flax Hill Rd. when a car in front of him made an illegal U-turn and then came to a stop. Lowe said he drove forward until his was face-to-face with the driver and asked if he was O.K. or lost.

The driver, later identified as Frankie Herrera, mumbled something, Lowe reported, then started laughing. Lowe stepped out of his car and asked Herrera for his license and registraton.

Herrera allegedly said he had no license or registration, and then called Lowe a "(vulgarity) bitch."

Lowe reported he put his left hand on Herrera's door to keep him from exiting the vehicle, and Herrera grabbed his hand. Lowe said he stepped back and Herrera again began laughing.

At this point Lowe radioed for additional officers to come to the scene.

When other officers arrived, they reported Herrera refused to exit his car and had to be dragged out of it. They reported he refused to stand up and began twisting around to avoid being handcuffed.

One of the officers reported that as he patted Herrera down he began moving erratically. He said Herrera referred to him with a vulgar term.

Herrera refused to perform field sobriety tests and later refused to breath into a machine to determine his blood alcohol content, police said.

Meantime, Herrera's passenger, Alexander Guzman, was patted down for officer safety and found to be carrying marijuana.

A search of the car resulted in the officers allegedly finding a box of Corona beers in the center console along with a green, leafly substance and plastic bags they described as often used to package marijuana for sale.

Herrera, 25, of 17 Pleasant St., was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, interferring with an officer, and making an illegal U-turn. He was held on combined bonds of $7,500 and given a court date of July 9.

Guzman, 21, of 1 Lenore St., was charged with possession of a hallucinogen or more than 4 or ounces of marijuana, and illegal manufacture, distribution or sale of marijuana or a non-hallucinogenic controlled substance. He was held on $10,000 bond and given a court date of July 9.