CLINTON — During the early morning hours of Sunday, May 5, 2024, Patrolman Michael Frick of the Clinton Police Department was parked on Greeley Street near its intersection with Sterling Street, facing northbound and monitoring traffic.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Patrolman Frick and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“It should be noted that the stop signs at this intersection are clearly marked and have flashing red lights surrounding them,” Patrolman Frick said. “Also, on the corner of Greeley and Sterling Street is the Breakaway Billiards establishment which was busy with patrons including some pedestrians that were leaving the bar on foot. This is right around closing time for the bar and this area and intersection become busy at this time. Furthermore, there have been multiple motor vehicle crashes in this intersection in the past and neighbors have reported motor vehicles not stopping at the stop signs at this intersection.”
At approximately 12:25 a.m., Patrolman Frick reported seeing a gray Ford F150 pickup truck with a bed cap traveling eastbound on Sterling Street, approaching the intersection at an estimated speed of 35-40 mph. According to Patrolman Frick, the driver of the truck, who was later identified as Maxim Larrabee, never slowed down as he went through the stop sign and continued straight onto Sterling Street.
According to police, Maxim Stephanavich Larrabee, 21, is a resident of 51 Robinson Road, Lexington, MA. The truck he was driving was registered to the general contracting company J Bates & Son LLC located at 57 Lawrence Street in Clinton.
“I immediately pulled out and took a right-hand turn from Greeley Street onto Sterling Street and at this time the truck was gaining speed and creating a great distance from me,” Patrolman Frick said. “As I made my way up Sterling Street and approached the intersection of Sterling Street and Main Street, I could now see the traffic lights at this intersection and took note that they were red, and the gray truck slowed at the intersection, never came to a stop, and took a right-hand turn onto Main Street southbound.”
Patrolman Frick said he continued to try to catch up to the truck, reaching speeds greater than 50 mph, and near the Clinton Fire Department located at 555 Main Street, he activated the overhead blue lights in his cruiser in an attempt to pull the truck over.
At this point, Patrolman Frick noted that the truck was crossing over the center line on Main Street and observed the speed on his patrol cruiser’s dashboard to be 60 mph. He then activated his sirens.
“It became apparent that the truck was not going to stop at this time, as it continued up Main Street towards Sterling/West Boylston. I then advised both dispatch and my shift Sergeant Joseph Lefebvre that I was attempting to stop a motor vehicle,” Patrolman Frick said. Later adding, “As I continued to update the shift sergeant, I took note that the truck was slowing down and the speed decreased to 30 mph, then down to a near stop, but continued slowly up to the intersection of Main Street and Winthrop Street.”
The truck came to a stop in the roadway, then moved forward again, turning its wheels fully to the right. It slowly drove onto the sidewalk and stopped at an angle, nearly striking a telephone pole in front of it. At this point, Patrolman Frick informed the sergeant that the vehicle had stopped and provided his location.
As Patrolman Frick exited the patrol cruiser, he ordered the driver, Mr. Larrabee, to place his hands on the steering wheel where he could see them. While still a few steps away from the driver’s side window, which was rolled down, Patrolman Frick said he detected the strong odor of “an alcoholic beverage” coming from inside the vehicle.
“At this time, I asked Mr. Larrabee to turn off the vehicle with his right hand,” Patrolman Frick explained. “Mr. Larrabee let his foot off the brake, the truck rolled forward a very short distance and he shifted into park and the truck suddenly stopped rolling and jerked forward and back. Mr. Larrabee then began looking at the dash area as if he could not find where the keys were to turn off the vehicle, then located them and turned the truck off.”
At this point, Sergeant Lefebvre had arrived on scene.
Larrabee attempted to open the door, but it was locked. Noticing this, Patrolman Frick checked by pulling on the exterior handle and confirmed that the door was indeed locked. He then informed Mr. Larrabee of this. Larrabee then unlocked the door by pushing the unlock button, opened the door, and began to get out, but his seatbelt, still fastened, prevented him from exiting the vehicle.
Larrabee then removed his seatbelt and exited the truck. Patrolman Frick had him walk to the rear of his truck, positioning him between the truck and the patrol cruiser.
“Mr. Larrabee was slow, deliberate, and clumsy while walking as if he was about to lose his balance,” Patrolman Frick said. Later adding, “At this point, I asked Mr. Larrabee where he was coming from and he stated he does not live in the area and is not familiar with the area but went to McDonalds. I asked where he was going and he told me his mother’s boyfriend’s house on Winthrop St. Mr. Larrabee then told me he is a student in college in Oregon and was home visiting. It should be noted that Mr. Larrabee had a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath and person as he talked to me, his eyes were bloodshot red and glassy, and his speech was thick tongued.”
Patrolman Frick asked Larrabee how much alcohol he had consumed that day and he said nothing at all. But when the officer asked when his last drink was, Larrabee said he had a beer at around 1 or 2 p.m.
Officer Frick then asked Larrabee if he would be willing to do field sobriety tests and he agreed.
“I asked Mr. Larrabee to stand with his feet together and hands by his side and I demonstrated this,” Officer Frick said. “I explained to Mr. Larrabee to stand in this position and not to do anything else but listen to me while I explained the test. Mr. Larrabee stated he understood and I then asked if he knew the alphabet. Mr. Larrabee immediately broke his posture and separated his feet and began swaying side to side.”
Patrolman Frick then repositioned Larrabee with his feet together and hands by his side. Despite this, Larrabee began swaying front to back. Patrolman Frick then explained the alphabet test, instructing Larrabee to recite the letters A to Z in order, without rhyming or singing.
“Mr. Larrabee stated he understood and began,” Patrolman Frick said. “He started at A B C up to T U V then said T U V again, a short pause, then W R S Y Z. It should be noted that I could continue to smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath and person while he said the alphabet.”
The next field sobriety test Patrolman Frick asked Larrabee to perform was the “one leg stand” test. This test involves lifting one leg about six inches from the ground, while holding the foot in a position parallel to the ground, with arms kept at the sides.
“I put Mr. Larrabee in the instruction phase position which is feet together hands by his side as I demonstrated this test,” Patrolman Frick said. “I asked Mr. Larrabee if he had any leg injuries and any reasons why he would not be able to do this test to which he stated no. Mr. Larrabee was unable to stay in position during the instruction phase and continued to break his stance and move his arms away from his body. I had to get him in position 3 times during the instruction phase. I again told Mr. Larrabee to not start until told to do so and listen and watch me demonstrate the test.”
Patrolman Frick stated that when instructed to begin the test, Larrabee lifted up his right leg about one inch, nearly touching the ground, extended his arms out to his sides like an airplane, and started counting from one thousand two.
“He said one thousand fourteen twice then made it to one thousand nineteen,” Patrolman Frick said. “At this point, he said one hundred twenty thousand, one hundred twenty-one thousand, one thousand twenty-two, one hundred twenty-three, one hundred twenty-four, one thousand twenty-five, one thousand twenty-six, one thousand twenty-seven, one thousand twenty-eight, and so forth, up to thirty. Mr. Larrabee then put his foot down.”
The last field sobriety test Patrolman Frick asked Larabee to take was the “walk-and-turn” test. The walk-and-turn test involves walking heel to toe in a straight line with your hands at your side for nine steps, then turning around and walking back to the starting point the same way.
“I put Mr. Larrabee in the instruction phase position with his heel-to-toe right foot in front of left, hands by his side, and on the with fog line,” Patrolman Frick said. “I told Mr. Larrabee to stay in this position and not move or start until I was done demonstrating and explaining this test. I again asked Mr. Larrabee if he had any leg injuries or if there was any reason why he could not do this test. Mr. Larrabee stated no. Mr. Larrabee could not get in the instruction phase position. He tried multiple times, but gave up, and every time he tried to stand heel-to-toe he became off balance, stepped off the line, raised his hands for balance, and just stood and watched me with his feet side by side. I put him in the instruction phase position three times.”
Patrolman Frick asked Mr. Larrabee if he remembered the starting position, with his heel-to-toe and feet on the line, and hands by his side. Larrabee confirmed he did, but did not move into the position when asked.
Patrolman Frick asked Larrabee if he wanted another demonstration and explanation of the starting position, Larrabee said he did. Patrolman Frick then demonstrated the starting position again. Larrabee placed his feet on the line and began walking forward.
“On steps three, four, and five, Mr. Larrabee missed heel-to-toe by about two inches and slid his foot back each time to touch heel-to-toe,” Patrolman Frick explained. “Mr. Larrabee was swaying side to side and was wobbling with each step. Mr. Larrabee did not do the turn as instructed, which was a series of small steps with his right foot while keeping his left foot on the line and turning around. Mr. Larrabee simply just walked and turned around and restarted with his feet heel-to-toe.”
At this time, Patrolman Frick formed the opinion that Larrabee was drunk and that his ability to operate a motor vehicle safely was impaired. Patrolman Frick then placed Larrabee in handcuffs behind his back and escorted him to the rear of his cruiser. Patrolman Kyle Grady arrived on the scene at this time. Patrolman Frick proceeded to read Larrabee his Miranda rights from a card kept in his pocket.
“Mr. Larrabee stated he understood his rights,” Patrolman Frick said. “I then asked Mr. Larrabee how much he had to drink and he said he had three ‘Mivekal Ultras.’ I asked if he meant Michelob Ultra. He said yes. He told me he was drinking at home, and decided to get a cheeseburger from McDonald’s as he was starving. It should be noted that there was a cheeseburger from McDonald’s on the front seat of the truck. Mr. Larrabee told me he had just took his mother’s boyfriend’s truck out and was confused about how to get back home.”
Patrolman Frick then transported Larrabee to the police station for booking.
“I was met in booking by Patrolman Matt Champagne,” Patrolman Frick said. “It should be noted that during transport I could detect a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from the rear of the cruiser that was not there prior to transport of the prisoner. I then escorted Mr. Larrabee to the booking area and had him sit in a chair as he was very cooperative at this point. I booked Mr. Larrabee and during booking I asked him a series of questions including spelling his middle name. It should be noted his middle name is Stephanavich. Mr. Larrabee spelt it Stephan, then said Stephen, then said Stephanig, then Stephanick. At this time, I asked him if he wanted me to try and spell it and he could tell me if I am correct. I spelt his middle name as it was on his license Stephanavich and he smiled and said that is correct. I then asked his address to which he gave in Lexington, MA, but gave the wrong zip code. Mr. Larrabee gave 01510, but it is 02420.”
During the booking process, Larrabee leaned forward in his chair with his head between his legs, slowly slid off the chair, and placed his hands on the floor, appearing upset as if he was crying. According to Patrolman Frick, his emotions fluctuated significantly; at times he was crying uncontrollably and very visibly upset, while at other times he was cooperative, calm, and not crying.
Larrabee chose to take the breath test and was observed by Patrolman Champagne. The test was administered, revealing a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.14% at 1:30 a.m. Patrolman Champagne provided Larrabee with a copy of his license suspension form and advised him that his license was suspended as a result of the breath test.
“I then asked Mr. Larrabee about his driving and the reason for not stopping for me on Main Street,” Patrolman Frick said.
Larrabee stated that he had gone to McDonald’s and was not familiar with the area, so he was confused on how to get back to Winthrop Street. Larabee added that he did not see Patrolman Frick behind him or hear the sirens and did not realize he was speeding or crossing the center yellow line.
Larrabee’s bail was set at personal recognizance. In Massachusetts, if bail is set as personal recognizance, it means the defendant is released from jail without having to post money, based on their promise to appear in court on their scheduled date. Typically, the defendant will need to sign a form acknowledging their release and commitment to appear in court.
“Mr. Larrabee then wanted to make his phone call,” Patrolman Frick said. “Mr. Larrabee could not remember his mother’s phone number, so we read it to him as we had it in our computer system. Mr. Larrabee was able to dial it the first time and left a message. Mr. Larrabee then attempted to call right back but forgot the number again. Mr. Larrabee was then unable to dial the number correctly so I dialed it for him. Mr. Larrabee then hung up the phone as he hit buttons on the phone for no reason. I then dialed again for Mr. Larrabee and this time he dropped the phone on the floor. Mr. Larrabee was finally able to get a hold of his family and advise them of his location and bail. Mr. Larrabee was subsequently released a short time later as his mother arrived to drive him home.”
Larrabee was formally charged with the following:
- Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Fail to Stop at Stop Sign
- Fail to Stop for Police
- Operating under the Influence of Liquor Per Se 0.14% BAC
- Speeding (60 mph in 30 mph zone)
- Marked Lanes Violation
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story was from May, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to get the court documents for the incident. FOIAs are time consuming.
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