GROTON — On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at approximately 8:01 p.m., Sergeant Kevin Henehan of the Groton Police Department was traveling northbound on Whiley Road in the area of Hidden Valley Road when he observed a white 1998 Dodge Ram pickup truck traveling southbound toward his location, abruptly cross completely over the single yellow marked lane and nearly strike his cruiser head on.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Sergeant Kevin Henehan and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“At least half of the pickup truck (left front and rear tires) was completely in the northbound lane,” Sgt. Henehan said.
Sergeant Henehan said that when the pickup truck swerved in his direction, both his cruiser and the Dodge Ram were traveling on a bend in the road and the pickup failed to safely negotiate the bend.
“I quickly swerved to the right of the roadway narrowly missing a collision by a few feet,” Sgt. Henehan said. “The pickup also swerved back into its lane and continued to travel southbound on Whiley Road. I immediately activated my blue emergency lights and siren signaling the vehicle to pull to the right of the roadway.”
Sergeant Henehan said he radioed dispatch his location and the pickup truck’s registration before exiting his cruiser and approaching the driver’s side door.
“The window was rolled down and I noted that there were two female occupants. I advised the operator the I had stopped her for a marked lanes violation and advised that she had nearly struck the cruiser,” Sgt. Henehan said. “I asked for an explanation for her erratic and dangerous operation. I also requested her license and vehicle registration. The operator handed me her Massachusetts license and registration which identified her as Ms. Roberta McNiff.”
According to police, Roberta J. McNiff, 56, is a resident of Ayer, MA.
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“Ms. McNiff appeared disheveled and upset. She apologized for nearly striking the cruiser and was attempting to explain what had happened,” Sgt. Henehan said. “Her passenger was speaking over her, which made it hard to understand what they were saying. Ms. McNiff stated that she had a horrible day and that she was rushing home in an effort to get her sister-in-law back to her residence as she was not feeling well.”
Sergeant Henehan asked McNiff’s sister-in-law if she required medical assistance. She said she did not.
“While speaking with Ms. McNiff I detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the cab of the pickup truck,” Sgt. Henehan said. “I noted that Ms. McNiff had bloodshot and glassy eyes, had difficulty articulating why she nearly struck my cruiser, and spoke in a soft, slurred tone. At times, she mumbled while speaking as if she had marbles in her mouth. After asking her to articulate numerous times why she drove into the oncoming lane, she stated that she was distracted by her sister-in-law, but did not elaborate how or why.”
Sergeant Henehan said he then stated that he detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle and asked McNiff if she had consumed any alcohol that day.
“She initially stated no, that she had worked landscaping all day,” Sergeant Henehan said. “[McNiff’s sister-in-law] who appeared intoxicated based on her slurred speech and behavior, stated that she had been drinking and was intoxicated.”
At this time, Sergeant Henehan radioed dispatch and requested an additional police unit respond to the scene.
Officer Tyler Melanson arrived on scene shortly thereafter.
“I asked Ms. McNiff to exit her vehicle in order to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST’s) to ensure that she was safe to operate her motor vehicle. She initially agreed to do so,” Sgt. Henehan said. “Ms. McNiff exited her vehicle and walked to the rear of the vehicle as instructed. I noted that she was somewhat unsteady on her feet, swaying in a circular motion while she stood approximately three feet in front of me. From this close proximity, I again detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath.”
Sergeant Henehan said that he then asked McNiff, once again, if she had consumed any alcohol at any time that day.
“She stated she had one and a half bud light beers at approximately 6:00 p.m. this evening,” Sgt. Henehan said. “She stated that she had just learned that her friend had passed away and that her nerves were shot.”
Sergeant Henehan then told McNiff that the first Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) she would take would be 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 asked Ms. McNiff to stand directly in front of me with her head straight and instructed her to follow a stimulus (my finger) with her eyes only,” Sgt. Henehan said. “Ms. McNiff was unable to follow my instructions and turned her head back and forth while attempting to follow my finger. Ms. McNiff asked if she was required to take the SFSTs. I advised that she was not. I reiterated that I was attempting to offer her every opportunity to ensure that she was not impaired and it was safe for her to operate her vehicle.”
Sergeant Henehan said that McNiff said she did not wish to perform any additional SFSTs.
“I acknowledged her statements and ceased instructions. Based on all of the above, I formed the opinion that Ms. McNiff was under the influence of liquor,” Sgt. Henehan said in his report. “She was placed under arrest, handcuffed (double locked) and placed into the rear of the cruiser.”
The pickup truck McNiff was driving was towed by Groton Collision Repair.
“Officer Tyler Melanson performed an inventory of the vehicle per department policy,” Sgt. Henehan said. “I transported Ms. McNiff to the Groton Police Station for booking. While en route to the station I detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the rear of the cruiser that was not present at the start of the shift.”
Back at the station, after she was booked, McNiff refused to take a chemical breath test.
“She signed the Statutory Rights and Consent Form indicating her acknowledgement of these rights and her refusal to submit a breath sample,” Sgt. Henehan said. “I signed the refusal form as the BT [breath test] Operator. Officer Peter Violette who was present during the booking process signed as a documented witness of the refusal. I entered Ms. McNiff’s information into the Breath Test unit indicating her refusal. I advised her that her right to operate a motor vehicle in Massachusetts shall be suspended for a period of at least 180 days or up to life. She was provided a copy of her refusal and notice of suspension.”
Sergeant Henehan said that while reviewing McNiff’s criminal history (Board of Probation Record) she noted that she had a prior OUI-Liquor charge in Ayer District Court.
“On August 30, 1993, she was charged with OUI-Liquor in the Ayer District Court,” Sgt. Henehan said. “The listed disposition on September 22, 1993 was continued without a finding (CWOF). As a result, Ms. McNiff will be charged with OUI- 2nd Offense.”
McNiff was also issued a Massachusetts Uniform Citation in hand for the following violations/offenses:
- OUI-Liquor (Second Offense)
- Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Marked Lanes Violation
“I confiscated Ms. McNiff’s Massachusetts license and destroyed it per authority of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles,” Sgt. Henehan said. “At approximately 9:55 p.m., Bail Commissioner Charlene McCormack released Ms. McNiff on personal recognizance. She was given her property and signed the GPD [Groton Police Department] Property Release Form. Ms. McNiff was released to the custody of her mother.”
McNiff’s arraignment was scheduled for July 16, 2025, in Ayer District Court.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in July, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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