GROTON — On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at approximately 7:27 p.m., Officer Peter Violette and Sergeant Kevin Henehan of the Groton Police Department were dispatched to the area of 191 Pepperell Road following a report of a vehicle that had crashed into a tree.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narratives of Officer Peter Violette and Officer Tyler Melanson and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“While enroute, dispatch advised us the operator was out of their vehicle, and was walking around,” Officer Violette said. “Upon arrival of Sgt. Henehan and myself, I observed a black Toyota crashed into a large tree off the roadway.”
Officer Violette said that when he and Sergeant Henehan exited their cruisers, there were approximately six to eight people standing in the roadway.
“Sgt. Henehan inquired if anyone had witnessed the accident,” Officer Violette said. “They responded by stating they only heard the crash.”
At this time, Groton Fire and EMS arrived on scene, and along with Sergeant Henehan, Officer Violette approached the driver.
“The operator ID’d himself to Groton EMS to be Richard Sweetsir. Sweetsir was acting animated and erratically, taking items and tools out of his vehicle, while EMS was attempting to evaluate Sweetsir for any injuries,” Officer Violette said.
According to police, Richard L. Sweetsir, 44, is a resident of Pepperell, MA.
“Sweetsir was uncooperative and was not receptive to EMS trying to evaluate him,” Officer Violette said. “As Sweetsir was walking around his vehicle, I observed him to be unsteady on his feet, and I observed his eyes to be glassy and bloodshot, and his face was flushed red from a distance.”
Sweetsir refused medical treatment, signing a medical refusal form, Officer Violette said.
“Sgt. Henehan and I approached Sweetsir, while he was mumbling to himself, and kept going into his vehicle to take items and tools out,” Officer Violette said. “I had to tell Sweetsir to stop what he was doing, and that I was conducting an investigation into the crash of his vehicle.”
Officer Violette asked Sweetsir what happened.
According to Officer Violette, Sweetsir stated that he had changed a flat tire on his vehicle approximately 20 minutes earlier. While traveling on Pepperell Road, the right front tire went flat again, causing him to drive off the road. He then struck an electric speed limit sign and a large tree.
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“I advised Sweetsir that I could detect a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath, his eyes were glassy and bloodshot and his face was flushed red, and his speech was slurred,” Officer Violette said.
Officer Violette asked Sweetsir how much he had to drink that evening.
“Sweetsir stated he drank one beer,” Officer Violette said. “I asked Sweetsir how long ago did he last drink his beer. Sweetsir stated, two hours ago. Upon Sweetsir making these statements to me, I could again detect a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.”
Officer Violette stated that Sweetsir attempted to walk away from him and approached his vehicle.
Officer Violette stated that he told Sweetsir to stop, explaining that he was conducting an investigation into the crash and needed to determine whether Sweetsir was fit to operate a motor vehicle. After being instructed to stop, Sweetsir complied and began to pay attention to Officer Violette.
“I advised Sweetsir that I was requesting him to take a series of field sobriety tests, which he agreed to do,” Officer Violette said. Later adding, “I asked Sweetsir what level of education he had, and he stated he graduated from high school. I asked Sweetsir is he able to recite the alphabet at my direction, which he stated he could. Sweetsir also stated he was in the Marines years ago. I observed Sweetsir to be wearing steel toe work boots, jeans and a t-shirt.”
Officer Violette stated that he advised Sweetsir to step away from his vehicle, and they walked approximately 20 feet to the side of the road.
“This area of the road was clear of any debris, flat, which was at the white fog line on Pepperell Road. As I observed Sweetsir walk towards the side of the road, he was unsteady on his feet. It was still light out from the day, which adequate provided enough light at the scene,” Officer Violette said.
The first field sobriety test Officer Violette asked Sweetsir to perform 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 Sweetsir’s eyes to have equal pupil size and equal tracking. I also noticed a lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes at maximum deviation. While conducting this test, I observed Sweetsir to sway his upper body,” Officer Violette said.
The second test Officer Violette asked Sweetsir to perform was the walk-and-turn test. The test requires a person to walk heel to toe in a straight line with their hands at their sides for about nine steps, counting each step out loud, then turn around and return to the starting point in the same manner.
Officer Violette stated that he instructed Sweetsir to place his hands at his sides and position his feet heel to toe for the instructional stance, and demonstrated how to do so.
“I demonstrated on the white line for Sweetsir to place his hands down to his sides, walk heel to toe nine steps and counting aloud each step, on the ninth step, pivot around and proceed back in the same manner,” Officer Violette said. “As I proceed with instructions/demonstration, Sweetsir began with the test. I had to tell Sweetsir to stop, and I advised him that I wanted him to understand the directions.”
At this time, Officer Violette said he asked Swettsir if he understood the directions for the test.
“Sweetsir stated, he did,” Officer Violette said. “At my direction, I advised Sweetsir to start with the test. Sweetsir started by walking heel to toe, and not counting aloud each step. Sgt. Henehan reminded Sweetsir to count aloud his steps. Sweetsir began counting aloud on the fifth step.”
Officer Violette stated that on the eighth step, Sweetsir raised his arms approximately 8 to 10 inches outward to help maintain his balance. As Sweetsir turned and walked back, Officer Violette observed his upper body swaying and noted that on the fourth step back, Sweetsir again raised his arms about 8 to 10 inches to regain his balance.
The third test Officer Violette asked Sweetsir to 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.
Officer Violette stated that he demonstrated to Sweetsir how to raise whichever foot he felt most comfortable with approximately six inches off the ground, keep his hands at his sides, and count aloud up to 30 in “one-thousands.”
Officer Violette stated that he asked Sweetsir if he understood the instructions, and Sweetsir responded that he did. At Officer Violette’s request, Sweetsir then proceeded with the test.
“Sweetsir raised his foot approximately six inches off the ground, and began counting aloud in one-thousands to 30,” Officer Violette said. “Sweetsir counted up to nine, and skipped number 10, and continued with 11. As Sweetsir continued, I observed him to raise his arms out to his sides approximately 10 inches on the 20 count, and place them back down. Sweetsir counted up to 27, lost his balance, placed his foot onto the ground, and stopped.”
The fourth test Officer Violette asked Sweetsir to perform was the alphabet test.
“I requested Sweetsir to recite the alphabet starting with the letter ‘D’ and end with the letter ‘W,’” Officer Violette said. “I asked Sweetsir if he understood the directions. Sweetsir stated, he did. Sweetsir proceeded at my request. Sweetsir started with, ‘A,B,C,D,’ and continued with the alphabet and ended at ‘W.’”
Officer Violette stated that Sergeant Henehan began to administer a preliminary breath test (PBT) to Sweetsir. In response, Sweetsir said, “No way, I’m not doing that, there is no way.” Sergeant Henehan then asked Sweetsir to provide a breath sample for the PBT, but Sweetsir replied, “I’m not going to do it.”
“Based on my observations of the crash scene, and the field sobriety tests conducted, I formed the opinion that Sweetsir was operating under the influence of an intoxicating liquor,” Officer Violette said. “Sweetsir was advised he was under arrest and placed in handcuffs. Sweetsir was escorted to my cruiser, and placed in the rear seat for transport.”
Officer Violette stated that Groton Collision Repair was called to tow the vehicle. Officer Tyler Melanson stood by during the tow and conducted an inventory of the vehicle.
While Officer Melanson was overseeing the towing of the vehicle, he said he was approached by the reporting party who stated that he witnessed the crash.
“He stated that he heard a crashing noise then looked and saw the vehicle strike the tree. He then saw the operator of the vehicle, who he identified as the male party arrested by Officer Violette, exit the vehicle and yell ‘F*ck,’” Officer Melanson said. “[The reporting party] stated the operator grabbed an open aluminum can from the interior of the vehicle and drank the entire contents before throwing the can into the woods. I attempted to locate the can in the area near the crash but was unsuccessful.”
Officer Melanson said he obtained a written statement from the reporting party on his observations of the crash.
Meanwhile, Officer Violette transported Sweetsir to the station for booking.
“I transported Sweetsir to the station. While enroute to the station, the interior of my cruiser was permeated with and odor of an alcoholic beverage that was emanating from Sweetsir’s breath and person,” Officer Violette said.
Officer Violette stated that upon arrival at the station, Sweetsir was escorted from his cruiser into the booking room. Sweetsir was placed in the holding cell and patted down. Sergeant Henehan then entered the booking room, at which point the handcuffs were removed from Sweetsir.
“I proceeded with the booking process, by advising Sweetsir of his applicable rights. Sweetsir was given a copy of his rights to read along with. Sweetsir acknowledged his rights, and signed the rights form,” Officer Violette said.
Officer Violette stated that Sweetsir was advised of his Statutory Rights and Consent Form by having the form read aloud to him while he followed along with a copy. Sweetsir acknowledged his rights by signing the form.
Officer Violette stated that Sweetsir was then offered the opportunity to submit to a breath test, but he refused to provide a breath sample.
Officer Violette said he signed the form as a refusal witness and provided Sweetsir with a copy of his license suspension.
Officer Violette said that Sweetsir’s license was then confiscated so it could be destroyed.
“Sweetsir was later released on PR [personal recognizance] bail by Bail Commissioner Matt Day,” Officer Violette said.
Officer Violette stated that upon reviewing Sweetsir’s Board of Probation record, he discovered that Sweetsir had a prior OUI liquor charge from October 23, 2008, with a disposition of continued without a finding on December 3, 2008, out of Ayer District Court.
Richard Sweetsir was charged with the following:
- OUI Liquor, Second Offense
- Negligent Operation of Motor Vehicle
- Marked Lanes Violation
- Speed Rate of Speed Greater than was Reasonable
Sweetsir’s arraignment was scheduled for Aug. 27, 2025, in Ayer District Court.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in August, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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