A Billerica man facing his sixth drunken driving charge was ordered held in jail without bail by Judge Michael Uhlarik at a dangerousness hearing at Gloucester District Court on Friday.
Steven P. Pierce, 50, of 8 Primrose Road, Billerica, was charged on Feb. 13 by Rockport police after he reportedly struck and injured a pedestrian while driving on South Street last Sunday.
Police received a report on Sunday, Feb. 13, from a motorist that a Ford pickup truck headed inbound to Rockport on Thatcher Road was being driven erratically. The driver followed the pickup until a police cruiser arrived; the driver told the officers that the truck was speeding and repeatedly crossed over the center line, nearly striking snowbanks on the side of the road.
While Pierce missed the snow banks and oncoming vehicles, his passenger-side mirror reportedly struck Christopher Rowell as Rowell was walking on South Street near Driftwood Road. Police said the strike injured 27-year-old Rockport man's left arm and shoulder and Rowell was taken by ambulance to Addison Gilbert Hospital. He was treated Sunday and then released, hospital officials said.
According to the police report, Rockport Sgt. Robert Tibert caught up with Pierce's pickup on South Street and immediately turned on his cruiser's blue lights and siren. However, Pierce reportedly continued driving down Pleasant Street, onto Marshall Street, and finally Parker Street, before the vehicle became stuck in a snowbank.
According to Tibert's report, Pierce pressed the gas causing the truck's rear tires to throw snow onto the police cruiser's windshield in a move that freed the pickup from the snowbank.
Pierce then continued driving down Parker Street until he reached Warren Court and brought the vehicle to a halt.
Tibert said Pierce almost fell on the ground when he attempted to exit the vehicle, and had to hold on to the driver's door to stop his fall. When asked why he didn't stop, Pierce reportedly stated he hadn't seen the blue lights.
Tibert detected a strong odor of alcohol and stated that Pierce's eyes were blood shot and glassy. Pierce was unable to stand without Tibert's help. He failed the field sobriety tests and was arrested.
Pierce initially told police that he had had a few vodkas, but according to the police report, he later told another officer during the booking process that he had consumed seven, eight or 10 drinks while on his drive home from Billerica to Rockport.
Pierce, who is also being charged with leaving the scene of an accident and had a valid driver's license at the time of this incident, has had five drunken driving arrests and five convictions since 1979 — including one as recent as 2002 — Richard Nangle, spokesman for the Registry of Motor Vehicles, confirmed Monday.
In other dispositions on Friday:
Froilan Deleon, 25, of 43, Park St., Lynn, had charges of driving without a license and driving to endanger continued without a finding for two months by Judge Uhlarik. Deleon was found responsible for a marked lanes violation and was ordered to pay a $100 fine.
Deleon was charged late last month after police observed him speeding on the A. Piatt Andrew Bridge in a construction zone. Police also noted that the roads were icy at the time.
Joanne Frontiero, 44, of 12 Hampden St., Gloucester, was sentenced to three months pretrial probation by Judge Uhlarik on charges of leaving the scene of an accident. She as also ordered to pay $150 in court costs.
Frontiero was charged in November after police say she struck a car parked in front of her on Rogers Street in front of the St. Peter's Club. Multiple witnesses took down her license plate number, according to police reports.
Courtney A. Ahearn, 28, of 4 Common Way, Gloucester, had charges of driving an uninsured motor vehicle continued without a finding for six months by Judge Uhlarik.
Ahearn was charged last June after being involved in a minor car accident in the Tedeschi's parking lot.
Nick Curcuru may be contacted at 978-283-7000 x3461 or ncurcuru@gloucestertimes.com.
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
