Leominster man arrested for DUI and assault with dangerous weapon after trying to run son over during domestic dispute, then crashing into stone wall on Main Street

Incident Overview

LEOMINSTER —On Sunday, September 8, 2024, Officer Brett Bourne of the Leominster Police Department was dispatched to 1437 Main Street following a report that a vehicle had crashed into a stone wall and was in the caller’s front yard.

Officer Daniel Parrish and Officer Tiffany Craven had been dispatched to the scene earlier and identified the driver as Daniel Ducksworth.

(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed personnel narratives of officers Brett Bourne and Daniel Parrish and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)

According to police, Daniel L. Ducksworth, 45, is a resident of 197 Spruce Street, Apt. 5, Leominster, MA.

After he arrived on scene, Officer Bourne was advised by dispatch that Ducksworth was also a person of interest in a separate incident that had been called into the Lunenburg Police Department.

“Dispatch advised me that Daniel Ducksworth is possibly an individual in question on a call that Lunenburg PD [police department] is currently working on and asked for a Leominster Police Officer to respond to their location to speak with them,” Officer Bourne said. “As I was arriving at the crash scene, dispatch confirmed with me that Mr. Ducksworth was indeed the party that Lunenburg PD was looking for.”

When he arrived at the crash scene, Officer Bourne told Officer Parrish to secure the scene and stay with Ducksworth while he met with Lunenburg police.

“I met up with Lunenburg police and they informed me that a domestic altercation took place in Leominster and moved to the [Lunenburg] line at the lakefront of Whalom Lake at 1536 Main Street, but stayed in Leominster and never crossed over into Lunenburg,” Officer Bourne said.

The Domestic Altercation

According to police, Ducksworth had been involved in a domestic altercation before the crash. Officer Bourne spoke with Ducksworth’s family members, including his daughter, his son, and the mother of his children (who will be referred to as “the woman” for the remainder of the article). The woman informed Officer Bourne that she and Ducksworth no longer had an intimate relationship and were solely co-parenting while living together.

“I asked [the woman] what happened tonight, and she stated to me that they were all at home hanging out and watching a movie when Mr. Ducksworth began acting very strangely,” Officer Bourne recounted.

The woman said that Ducksworth then left the house in his vehicle, saying he was going to the “lake,” and since he had grown up near Whalom Lake, she understood that was where he intended to go. Since they had been drinking wine at home earlier that day, she asked her daughter to drive her to the lakefront to check on him because she was concerned for his safety.

The woman stated that when they arrived at the lakefront, they found the door of Ducksworth’s red Mercedes GLA SUV open, with his leg hanging out of the vehicle. When she approached him, Ducksworth was confrontational, telling her to “leave me the f$*c alone.” She then called her son to come help her get Ducksworth home.

Ducksworth’s son told Officer Bourne that when he got to their location, he tried to calm his father down.

“[Ducksworth’s son] stated that he did not want his father to drive after finding out that he was drinking and possibly intoxicated,” Officer Bourne said. “[Ducksworth’s son] stated that he wedged his knee in between Mr. Ducksworth’s car door so that he couldn’t shut it. [Ducksworth’s son] then stated that Mr. Ducksworth tried to shut the door, but [his son] was able to push the car door back open. [Ducksworth’s son] stated that while he was holding the door open, Mr. Ducksworth put the car in reverse and backed up the vehicle while he was behind the door holding it open. [Ducksworth’s son] stated to me that he held the car door and stayed with the movement of the car while it was backing up, in order to prevent being knocked over and possibly run over by the vehicle.”

Ducksworth’s son said that his father then sped away from the lakefront, heading down Main Street at a high speed.

“[Ducksworth’s son] stated that he got into his car and was going to follow him, but Mr. Ducksworth was going so fast that [Ducksworth’s son] slowed down and didn’t want to drive that fast to follow him,” Officer Bourne said. Adding, “Because an argument took place along with an assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, (the vehicle that Mr. Ducksworth was driving), I told [the woman] that I would have to file a 51A with DCF [Massachusetts Department of Children & Families] in regards to this incident since her daughter who is 17 years old, [name redacted], was present during the altercation.” (A 51A form is a mandatory report that professionals in Massachusetts, who work with children, must file with the DCF when they suspect that a child is being abused, neglected, or both).

At this time, Officer Bourne said that he read Ducksworth’s son and the mother of his children the “abused person’s notice of rights” form and provided them with a copy of it. He also filled out a dangerousness worksheet with Ducksworth’s son.

“I asked [Ducksworth’s son] if he had any injuries and he stated, ‘No,’” Officer Bounre said. “I did not observe any injuries on [Ducksworth’s son] and [Ducksworth’s son] declined any medical attention. Sgt. Morrel showed up on scene and I informed him of what happened. At this time, I had probable cause to arrest Mr. Ducksworth for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (the motor vehicle Mr. Ducksworth was driving), based off the facts and statements made by the victim.”

Officer Bourne charged Ducksworth with Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon for the following reason: “Mr. Ducksworth struck his son, [name redacted], with the car door of a moving vehicle. [Ducksworth’s son] was behind the car door and had to run with the car while Mr. Ducksworth was backing up in order to not be run over.”

The Crash on Main Street

Earlier that day, Officer Daniel Parrish was dispatched to the crash scene, the residence located at 1437 Main Street, where Ducksworth had driven his SUV into a stone wall before coming to a stop 50 yards past the wall, just six feet from the house.

When he arrived on scene, Officer Parrish said he noticed damage to part of the stone wall.

“I exited the cruiser and noticed there were multiple individuals standing on the opposite side of the stone wall,” Officer Parish recounted. “I asked the group what had happened, one person later identified as Mr. Daniel Ducksworth stated that he was the driver and that he had crashed into the stone wall. Another individual, Mr. [name redacted], stated that he owned the property.”

Officer Parrish walked with Ducksworth and the owner of the home through the yard to the vehicle involved in the accident, a red Mercedes GLA SUV.

“[The home owner] pointed out multiple pieces of debris and the fact that the vehicle had ended up 50 yards past the stone wall, into his front yard, and stopped only six feet from the house,” Officer Parrish said. “A reasonable person would be led to believe Mr. Ducksworth must have been going a considerably high rate of speed, drove over the double yellow lines, and did not attempt to stop at all before the collision with the stone wall. The vehicle was traveling on a public way and hit an embankment before the stone wall.”

The airbags of the Mercedes had not deployed in the crash, Officer Parrish added.

After speaking with the home owner, Officer Parrish asked Ducksworth for his driver’s license, relayed Ducksworth’s information to dispatch, and then asked Ducksworth where he was coming from.

“Mr. Ducksworth stated that he was coming from Lake Whalom and had a verbal altercation with his son and ex-wife,” Officer Parrish said. “Mr. Ducksworth stated that he was trying to get out of heated argument and that’s why he was driving fast. Dispatch advised me that Mr. Ducksworth was involved with another incident with Lunenburg PD [Police Department].”

Officer Parrish noticed that Duckworth’s mouth and nose were bloody and asked him if he needed medical attention.

“Mr. Ducksworth declined medical attention stating that he was feeling fine,” Officer Parrish said. “I asked Mr. Ducksworth if he had any alcoholic beverages tonight, due to an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his mouth area. Mr. Ducksworth stated that he had one alcoholic beverage. Mr. Ducksworth later stated that he had gin with a 32 ounce of cream soda over the course of two hours. I asked Mr. Ducksworth again where he was coming from and he stated Spruce Street. I told Mr. Ducksworth that he just told me he was coming from Whalom Lake. At first, Mr. Ducksworth was confused stating he never said that, then after a few seconds he stated that he did say that. There were multiple instances where Mr. Ducksworth would state different stories of what happened before the accident. Mr. Ducksworth was not making any sense and could not keep his stories straight.”

Field Sobriety Tests and Arrest

At this time, Officer Parrish asked Ducksworth if he would perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs).

“At this time, I could still smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his mouth area,” Officer Parrish said. “Due to the flat ground being in a dark area as well as his swollen eye, I did not conduct the HGN (Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus) test.”

Officer Parrish read the instructions for the walk-and-turn test from a card he carries on his person. The walk-and-turn test requires the individual to walk heel-to-toe in a straight line with their hands at their sides for about nine steps (counted out loud), then turn around and return to the starting point in the same way.

After demonstrating the test to Ducksworth, Officer Parrish asked him to begin the test.

“Mr. Ducksworth took his first step off the line, not heel-to-toe,” Officer Parrish said. “He could not keep his hand down by his side for the duration of the test. Mr. Ducksworth lost his balance at step six and almost fell to the ground. Mr. Ducksoworth continued walking for fourteen steps before I told him he could stop.”

At this time, Officer Parrish asked Ducksworth if he had any medical conditions that would prevent him from doing these tests.

“Mr. Ducksworth stated he had diabetes, and epilepsy,” Officer Parrish said. “I asked him when was the last time he had any sugar. Mr. Ducksowrth stated not for a couple hours. I told Mr. Ducksworth we would not be continuing these tests. Mr. Ducksworth stated over and over again that he could complete these tests and would like to do so. I asked him one last time if he was sure he wanted to take the SFSTs. Mr. Ducksworth stated that he did and he could do them. I asked Mr. Ducksworth to removes his sandals and to continue the test again.”

Officer Parrish said that Ducksworth began the walk and turn test again.

“Mr. Ducksworth could not keep his feet heel-to-toe, and when he turned, he did not take a series of small steps,” Officer Parrish said. “Mr. Ducksworth stepped off the line at his sixth step on his way back.”

The next test Officer Parrish had Ducksworth perform was the one-leg stand. This test involves lifting one leg about six inches off the ground, while holding the foot in a position parallel to the ground, with arms kept at the sides.

“I stated for him to stand with his feet together and his arms by his side,” Officer Parrish said. “I demonstrated the starting position. Mr. Ducksworth began the starting position without me telling him to do so. I told Mr. Ducksworth to begin the test when I told him to do so. I asked if he understood, Mr. Ducksworth stated he did. I told him to take his hands out of his pockets.”

Officer Parrish demonstrated the one-leg stand test to Ducksworth and instructed him to count out loud, beginning with “one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three,” continuing until told to stop.

“I asked if Mr. Ducksworth understood these instructions, he stated he did,” Officer Parrish said. “I told him to begin the test. Immediately he raised his arms parallel to the ground, he swayed to one side, hopped to catch his balance, and put his foot down. Mr. Ducksworth concluded the test on his own after losing his balance and almost falling over. Mr. Ducksworth asked to do the test again. Mr. Ducksworth only got to ‘one thousand and four.’ I did not have Mr. Ducksworth continue due to it being too dangerous for him to continue.”

Officer Parrish said that Sergeant Morrell, the on-street supervisor, told him to have the EMT’s check Ducksworth due to his health conditions.

“When the EMTs arrived, they checked Mr. Ducksworth’s vitals,” Officer Parrish said. “The EMT advised that his vitals were fine and he denied going to the hospital. At the end, the EMT asked me if Mr. Ducksworth had any alcohol tonight. I stated he did.”

After the EMTs concluded their tests, Officer Parrish placed Ducksworth under arrest for Operating Under the Influence of Liquor.

“I placed the handcuffs on Mr. Ducksworth, checked them for tightness and double locked them for his safety,” Officer Parrish said. Mr. Ducksworth was compliant.”

Ducksworth was searched, placed in the back of Officer Parrish’s cruiser and then he was transported back to the Leominster Police Department where he was booked.

Charges

After conducting a breathalyzer test at the police station, which resulted in a 0.11% BAC (above the legal limit of 0.08%), Officer Parrish charged Ducksworth with the following:

• Operating Under the Influence of Liquor
• Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle
• Marked Lanes Violation
• Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon (vehicle) for using the car door as a weapon against his son during the altercation at Whalom Lake.

Ducksworth was arraigned on Sept. 9, 2024, in Leominster District Court. Following his arraignment, he was released under the condition that he not abuse the victims and remain drug and alcohol free.

Ducksworth is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 28, 2024 for a pretrial conference.

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story was from September, 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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