Providence police officer faces DUI charge after crashing into woods in East Greenwich

EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (WLNE) — A Providence police officer is accused of drunk driving after crashing his car into the woods in East Greenwich last weekend.

The crash happened just after 1:30 a.m. on June 18 on New London Turnpike.

According to a police report, when officers arrived at the scene, Victor Tavarez was standing on the driver side of the car with his face partially red and his eyes bloodshot and watery.

“When he spoke, it sounded as if he was slurring his words slightly,” read part of the report. “When he spoke, I could smell a heavy odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath and his person.”

Police said Tavarez, who’s 35 years old, admitted he was coming from “The Trap” in Warwick and was on his way home.

Tavarez told police he lost control of his car, causing him to hit a guardrail, read the report. He went on to say that he and his wife just had a baby and that he was out for the first time since having the child.

“He repeated the story about his child being born exactly a month ago and that he was on paternity leave from work, several times,” wrote a responding officer.

Police said the 35-year-old was out with some friends from work and arrived at “The Trap” at about 10:30 p.m. and left at 1 a.m.

At the Warwick bar, Tavarez had two beers and three whiskey drinks, according to the report. While talking with officers, he stumbled one time, backwards toward his car.

“I had him stand on the other side of the guardrail and lean against it for stability,” said the responding officer in the report.

Tavarez wasn’t injured in the crash and refused medical treatment. He refused to take any test and was taken into custody without any problems.

Tavarez, who’s been with Providence for about four years, was charged with one count of DUI 1st offense BAC unknown and two counts of refusal to submit to a chemical test.

Providence Police Cmdr. Kevin Lanni told ABC 6 News Tuesday that Tavarez is on administrative duty with pay and will go through the administrative process and be “held accountable if he’s found guilty.”