By Tony Schinella
John Kavanagh, 32, of Newton, was arrested by Brookline Police at 3:50 a.m. on Feb. 14, and charged with OUI liquor, third offense, and operating a motor vehicle after license suspension. He was also cited for impeding the free flow of traffic, a town bylaw.
While patrolling Beacon Street, an officer saw a black Mercury Moutaineer stopped in the left travel lane speaking with pedestrians, impeding the flow of traffic with already dangerous road conditions due to snow. The officer pulled the vehicle over to the left and initiated a motor vehicle stop.
The driver, Kavanagh, reportedly didn’t have a license and was driving his roommate’s car. Kavanagh reportedly questioned being stopped and said the pedestrians flagged him down.
“During this conversation I observed the operator’s speech to be slurred,” the officer alleged. “His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and I could detect a moderate odor of alcohol coming from his breath."
Kavanagh, however, allegedly denied drinking. Other officers were called to the scene to assist. A check of Kavanagh’s license yielded a suspended status. He agreed to field sobriety tests and was later arrested.
During processing, according to the arrest report, police alleged that Kavanagh “began to disrobe for no apparent reason, and stripped down to his boxer shorts while in the presence of a female officer.”
Police stated he remained that way through process and alleged that he was “uncooperative, belligerent, yelling at officers” during his breathalyzer test.
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