Dartmouth Police arrest “belligerent” New Bedford man on OUI charges

November 11, 2018 3:02 pm

By News Staff

Email: news@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6

DARTMOUTH, Mass. (WLNE) – Dartmouth Police arrested a New Bedford man Saturday on charges of driving under the influence.

Dartmouth Police and emergency personnel responded to the area of 104 Chase Road just before 5:30 p.m. Saturday for reports of a motor vehicle that had crashed into a utility pole.

Officers on scene discovered a vehicle that had collided with a utility pole, snapping the pole with the force of impact.

Dartmouth Police said the operator of the vehicle, identified as Keith Avila, 34, of New Bedford, was “belligerent” on scene and was arrested on suspicion of OUI.

At Police headquarters, Avila reportedly threatened officers, vandalized town property, struck his own head against a bathroom wall, and urinated in a trash can while handcuffed to the booking room wall.

Avila was subsequently charged with an OUI, a marked lanes violation, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, having an open container of alcohol inside a moving car, intimidating of a witness and vandalism. In addition, Avila received a town by-law violation for having an open container of marijuana in the vehicle.

Police said Avila was evaluated by EMS personnel despite claims that he had no injuries from either the crash or striking his head against the wall.