Tiverton Police Arrest Driver After Wild Ride Through Neighborhood

On a quiet Thursday night in Tiverton, things quickly took a wild turn. Around 11:30 p.m., local police started receiving calls about a gray SUV driving strangely around the Country View Estates neighborhood.

Neighbors reported seeing the car swerve off the road, drive over several front lawns, and even knock over a light post. It was clear someone was behind the wheel, but it wasn’t clear whether the driver was in control of the vehicle at all.

Tiverton Police Officer Joseph Barek was first to respond, and what he found was even more bizarre.

An Unresponsive Driver and a Fearful Situation

When Officer Barek arrived at Blackbird Street and Lark Lane, he found the SUV idling at an intersection. Inside, the driver, later identified as 35-year-old Brian Brown from Raynham, Massachusetts, was slumped over the wheel and unresponsive.

The car was still running, but Brown didn’t appear to be aware of his surroundings. His foot was pressing down on the brake, but the car was in drive. Officer Barek knocked on the window, trying to wake Brown and instructing him to put the car in park.

After several minutes of no response, things took a strange turn.

A Close Call and Quick Thinking

Suddenly, Brown stirred and started to drive forward—right toward Officer Barek’s patrol car. Barek jumped into action, running alongside the SUV as Brown continued driving, seemingly unaware of the danger. As the car moved toward a nearby house, Barek feared a serious accident was about to happen.

With no time to waste, Officer Barek smashed the driver’s side window with his baton. He quickly reached inside, put the car into park, and turned off the ignition. Barek then pulled Brown out of the vehicle, handcuffing him before things could escalate further.

A Clear Sign of Impairment

When Brown was taken into custody, officers immediately smelled alcohol on his breath. Brown admitted to having been drinking earlier that evening and said he was coming from Raynham, though it was unclear how he ended up in Tiverton.

Inside his vehicle, several empty alcohol bottles were found, further suggesting that Brown had been drinking heavily. Though he refused to take field sobriety tests, a preliminary breath test showed his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit at 0.211%.

Brown was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), but the incident didn’t end there. Police were concerned that his strange behavior might be linked to something more serious.

A Medical Check and Ongoing Investigation

After the arrest, Brown was transported to a nearby hospital, not only for the effects of alcohol but also for an unrelated medical issue. While he was receiving treatment, police continued their investigation into the events of the night.

As of now, Tiverton Police have not released more information about the case, and it’s still under investigation. Given the bizarre and dangerous nature of the incident, it’s possible that additional charges could be filed.

A Wild Ride Ends in Handcuffs

For Brown, what started as a late-night drive ended in a dramatic standoff with police. And for the residents of Country View Estates, it was a reminder of how quickly things can take a dangerous turn. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the whole situation could have been much worse.

For now, Tiverton Police will continue to look into what led to Brown’s erratic driving—and whether more charges are on the way.