GROTON — On Saturday, April 12, 2025, at approximately 6:31 p.m., Officer Frank Mastrangelo of the Groton Police Department was dispatched to Boston Road (Route 119) in the area of four corners following a 911 call from a motorist reporting an erratic driver.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Statement of Facts of Officer Mastrangelo and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“Dispatch stated that the caller…described the vehicle as driving ‘all over the roadway,’ heading west on Boston Road (Rt. 119) from four corners,” Officer Mastrangelo said.
The caller said the vehicle was a black Toyota Camry with Massachusetts plates.
“I was just finishing up a car stop on Route 119 in front of Lawrence Academy when I noticed the vehicle fitting the description with matching license plate pass by me heading west toward the center of town,” Officer Mastrangelo said. “At this point, while not losing sight of the vehicle, I cleared my car stop and did a U-turn on Boston Road and proceeded to catch up to the vehicle as it turned left onto Broadmeadow Road.”
Officer Mastrangelo stated that he then observed the vehicle turn left onto Playground Road.
“As I turned the corner at Playground Road, the operator was entering the parking lot of the Groton Public Library at which time he parked the vehicle in a parking space closest to the basketball court,” Officer Mastrangelo said. “As soon as the vehicle stopped, the driver jumped quickly out of the driver’s seat and briskly walked away from the vehicle toward the library. He was the only individual in the vehicle. Concerned with the operator’s action and public safety, I told the driver to stop to inquire of his actions, at which time he refused by yelling ‘no!’”
Officer Mastrangelo stated that he then called for assistance because the driver was not following instructions.
“I then shouted in a firm, commanding voice for him to stop and return to his vehicle as he was walking away from me,” Officer Mastrangelo said. “Without any questioning or prompting, the driver shouted ‘I wasn’t driving the vehicle!’ I informed him I just witnessed him driving the vehicle on Main Street and followed him to this location. As the driver slowly returned to his vehicle, I quickly glanced in the vehicle and noticed what appeared to be an open alcoholic beverage can in the center console.”
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Officer Mastrangelo stated that as he approached the driver, he detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the individual’s breath. He also observed that the driver’s speech appeared slurred and his eyes appeared bloodshot.
“I informed him that we received a report of this vehicle ‘driving all over the road,’” Officer Mastrangelo said. “I asked the driver if he had consumed any alcoholic beverages. He stated ‘no.’”
At this time, Officer Peter Violette arrived on scene.
“I asked the driver for his driver’s license and he stated that he did not have a license in his possession,” Officer Mastrangelo said. “Upon request, he did provide his name and DOB. He was identified as a David Moore.”
According to police, David G. Moore, Jr., 33, is a resident of Whitefield Avenue in Billerica, MA.
“Although his address comes back to [number redacted] Whitefield Avenue, Billerica, MA, Mr. Moore states that he is currently homeless and living out of his wife’s vehicle with her permission,” Officer Mastrangelo said.
Officer Mastrangelo stated that he moved Mr. Moore to a flat, clearly lined area of the parking lot near the baseball field—free of debris or obstructions—in order to administer Standardized Field Sobriety Tests [SFSTs].
“I then removed my SFST Instructions card from my shirt pocket to administer SFSTs to the operator,” Officer Mastrangelo said.
The first field sobriety test Officer Mastrangelo asked Moore to take was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test. According to findlaw.com, the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test is a field sobriety test where an officer has an individual follow an object (such as a pen tip or pen light) with his/her eyes. The HGN test checks for the involuntary jerking of one’s eyes as they gaze side to side. This involuntary jerkiness is said to increase while under the influence of alcohol.
“I observed that his eyes had equal pupil size and equal tracking. The stimulus used was a black cap on top of a ball point pen which he confirmed that he could see clearly,” Officer Mastrangelo said. “I observed a lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes, and a distinct and sustained nystagmus at full deviation in both eyes. I also observed a distinct nystagmus prior to 45 degrees of deviation in both eyes.”
The second field sobriety test Officer Mastrangelo asked Moore to take was the walk and turn test. 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.
“I instructed and demonstrated Mr. Moore on the walk and turn test,” Officer Mastrangelo said. “I then demonstrated the steps, arms by my side and heel to toe including the small steps and proper turn. During the walking portion of the test, Mr. Moore stepped off the line at step six and raised his arms to the midpoint of his body for balance on several occasions. When Mr. Moore attempted the turn, he was unable to turn as instructed and picked up both feet as he shuffled to the right side. When speaking, Mr. Moore continued to slur his words and I again smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.”
The next test Officer Mastrangelo asked Moore to perform was the alphabet test.
“I asked Mr. Moore to recite back to me the Alphabet, starting with the letter ‘D’ and ending with the letter ‘W’ when instructed,” Officer Mastrangelo said. “He missed the letter ‘V’ when repeating letters back.”
The next test Officer Mastrangelo asked Moore 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.
“Mr. Moore was then asked to perform a one leg stand test,” Officer Mastrangelo said. “I instructed and demonstrated the test for Mr. Moore. He preferred to use his right leg to balance because of his past injury. Mr. Moore was unable to maintain his balance and placed his foot down numerous times during the test. He also raised his arms to the midpoint of his body throughout the test in an attempt to maintain his balance.”
Officer Mastrangelo stated that Sergeant Patrick Timmins administered a preliminary breath test using a portable Alcotest 6510 device, which is designed to measure blood alcohol concentration through a breath sample. The test indicated a reading of 0.159.
“Based on the facts contained in the above paragraphs, I formed my opinion that Mr. Moore was under the influence of intoxicating liquor,” Officer Mastrangelo said.
Moore was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with:
- OUI-Liquor or .08%
- Possess Open Container of Alcohol in Motor Vehicle
- Operating Motor Vehicle with License Suspended
When Moore was transported to the Groton Police Station for booking, Officer Peter Violette conducted an inventory of Moore’s vehicle. During the inventory, Officer Violette observed a 12-ounce can of Sun Cruiser iced tea vodka—approximately one-quarter full—located in the center console cup holder between the driver and passenger seats. In the front passenger seat, he observed four full Dr. McGillicuddy’s nip bottles. On the passenger-side floor, there were two empty Jack Daniels nip bottles, one empty Dr. McGillicuddy’s bottle, and one empty 12-ounce can of Sun Cruiser iced tea vodka under the front of the passenger seat.
“I took possession of the 1/4 full Sun Cruiser iced tea vodka can, which I emptied the remaining contents of the Sun Cruiser iced tea vodka out,” Officer Violette said. “The Sun Cruiser iced tea vodka was siezed and held for evidence. I completed an inventory of the vehicle, and filled out the Groton Police Dept. inventory form. Groton Collision had been notified, and responded to the scene. Moore’s vehicle was towed, and I proceeded back to the station, to assist with the booking process of Moore.”
After Moore was booked at the Groton Police Station, he was released on personal recognizance.
Moore’s arraignment was scheduled for April 14, 2025 in Ayer District Court.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story occurred in April, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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