GROTON — On Monday, July 21, 2025, at approximately 3:50 p.m., Officer Tyler Melanson of the Groton Police Department was dispatched to the intersection of School House Road and Martins Pond Road following a report of a single-vehicle crash.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Tyler Melanson and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“Dispatch advised that the reporting party stated the vehicle was off the roadway, down an embankment, and attempting to flee the scene,” Officer Melanson said. “While en route to the scene, dispatch advised that the vehicle had now stopped and did not leave the scene.”
When Officer Melanson arrived on scene, he said he observed a grey 2006 Buick UT Rainier with Massachusetts plates positioned down a steep embankment near the stop sign on School House Road.
“The vehicle had come to a rest on the side lawn of 435 Martins Pond Road,” Officer Melanson said. Later adding, “Multiple witnesses on scene stated the vehicle had just traveled at a high rate of speed through the intersection and crashed down the embankment. I asked the witnesses who was operating the vehicle? They all stated that it was the male party who was standing next to the vehicle.”
Officer Melanson observed a man standing by the vehicle with a dog.
“The male party appeared disheveled, was unsteady on his feet, and stumbled as he began to approach me. He then took a seat in the grass next to the vehicle and began petting the dog,” Officer Melanson said.
Officer Melanson approached the man and asked him if he was operating the vehicle.
“He stated that he was. I asked him if he required any medical attention and requested his driver’s license. He stated that he did not need any medical assistance and handed me his entire wallet,” Officer Melanson said. “I reiterated that I only needed to see his driver’s license. He then handed me his Massachusetts license which identified him as Mr. Stephen Noyes.”
According to police, Stephen Gregory Noyes, 44, is a resident of Pepperell, MA.
“While standing next to Mr. Noyes, I detected an odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from his person. I also noted that Mr. Noyes had bloodshot and glassy eyes. While speaking with Mr. Noyes, I noted that he spoke with a slurred tone and mumbled,” Officer Melanson said. “I asked Mr. Noyes to explain to me what had happened. He stated that he was having a bad day and was coming home from court. He then began to make statements that did not make much sense and had no relevance to the crash. Mr. Noyes began to cry while talking. He then became fixated on the dog and could not articulate any reason for the motor vehicle crash.”
Officer Melanson then told Noyes that he detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating form his person and asked him if he had consumed and alcohol that day.
“He stated that he was unsure,” Officer Melanson said. “I asked Mr. Noyes how he could be unsure. He began to mumble and I could not understand what he was saying.”
Officer Melanson said that while he was on scene, he reviewed the crash site and conducted a motor vehicle crash investigation.
“I observed embedded and continuous skid marks starting approximately 15 feet before the stop line on School House Road. The skids continued, without any breaks, through the remainder of the intersection, and off the roadway,” Officer Melanson said. “It was clear the vehicle had not stopped at the stop sign and was traveling at a speed excess of at least 50 miles per hour.”
At this time, Sergeant Kevin Henehan and Officer Peter Violette arrived on scene.
“Sergeant Henehan and Officer Violette began talking to the reporting party [name redacted] who had witnessed the motor vehicle crash,” Officer Melanson said. “[He] told Sergeant Henehan that he was traveling eastbound on Martins Pond Road and came to a stop at the intersection. While he began to take a right onto School House Road, he observed Mr. Noyes’s vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed (he estimated 70 mph) and was in the wrong lane while approaching the intersection. He then stated that the vehicle swerved back into the correct lane. As the vehicle approached the stop sign, the operator locked the vehicle’s brakes, skidded for approximately 100 feet, then shot through the intersection and over the embankment into the brush.”
The reporting party stated that the vehicle came to rest at the bottom of the steep embankment and became entangled in brush and dead tree limbs.
“He then stated he observed the operator reverse the vehicle approximately the length of the car before driving forward again,” Officer Melanson said. “He believed that the operator was attempting to leave the scene of the crash, however the vehicle became stuck in the debris. Sergeant Henehan and Officer Violette then joined Mr. Noyes and I in the grass at the bottom of the embankment.”
Sergeant Henehan asked Noyes if he needed medical attention, but he declined.
“Sergeant Henehan then requested Mr. Noyes to follow us up the embankment back onto the roadway by our cruisers. Mr. Noyes’s dog was secured in his vehicle before leaving,” Officer Melanson said. “While walking up the embankment, Mr. Noyes had to place his arm on my shoulder for balance. We then spoke with Mr. Noyes at the back of my cruiser. I noted that Mr. Noyes appeared unsteady on his feet and was swaying in a circular motion. I again detected an odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from Mr. Noyes’s person as I stood a few feet in front of him.”
Officer Melanson said Sergeant Henehan and Officer Violette each stated they detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Noyes and asked whether he had consumed any alcohol that day.
“Mr. Noyes stated that he was unsure,” Officer Melanson said. “Sergeant Henehan asked him how he was unsure if he had consumed any alcohol. He began making nonsensical statements then uttered that he had only drank before going to court this morning.”
At this time, Officer Melanson asked Noyes if he would perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST’s) to ensure that he was safe to operate a motor vehicle.
“Mr. Noyes stated that he did not wish to perform any tests and wished to speak with a lawyer. We acknowledged his statement and did not issue any SFST instructions,” Officer Melanson said. “Based on all the above, I formed the opinion that Mr. Noyes was under the influence of liquor. He was placed under arrest, handcuffed (double locked), and placed into the rear of my cruiser.”
Noyes’ vehicle was towed from the scene by CBK Towing & Recovery.
“Officer Violette completed a motor vehicle inventory form per department policy,” Officer Melanson added.
Officer Melanson transported Noyes to the Groton Police Station for booking. During the transport, Officer Melanson said he detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the rear of the cruiser—a smell that had not been present at the start of his shift.
“At the station, Mr. Noyes was booked in the usual manner and afforded all applicable rights. He was advised of his Miranda warnings which were read to him and signed by him indicating that he understood his rights,” Officer Melanson said. “He was also advised of his rights detailed on the Statutory Rights and Consent Form. He acknowledged that he understood these rights and elected to refuse to take the chemical test. He signed the Statutory Rights and Consent Form indicating his acknowledgement of these rights and his refusal to submit a breath sample. I signed the refusal form as the BT [Breath Test] Operator. Sergeant Henehan, who was present during the booking process, signed as a documented witness of the refusal.”
Officer Melanson then entered Noyes information into the breath test unit indicating his refusal.
“I advised him that his right to operate a motor vehicle in Massachusetts shall be suspended for a period of at least 180 days and up to life. He was provided a copy of his refusal and notice of suspension,” Officer Melanson said. “Throughout the booking process, while standing in close proximity to Mr. Noyes, I detected an odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from his person. I also noted that he spoke in a slurred and mumbled tone. During the fingerprinting process, Mr. Noyes appeared unsteady on his feet and utilized the wall for support in order to maintain his balance.”
While reviewing Noyes’ criminal history, Officer Melanson said he noted that Noyes was found guilty of Aggravated Driving while Intoxicated in Derry, New Hampshire on March 13, 2008, as a result he was charged with OUI-Second Offense.
Noyes was handed a Massachusetts Uniform Citation charging him with the following violations/offenses:
- OUI-Liquor or .08%, 2nd Offense
- Negligent Operation of Motor Vehicle
- Fail to Stop/Yield
- Speeding
“I confiscated and destroyed Mr. Noyes Massachusetts license per authority of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles,” Officer Melanson said. “At approximately 5:55 PM, Bail Commissioner Charlene McCormack released Mr. Noyes on $220 cash bail. He was given his property and signed the GPD [Groton Police Department] Property Release Form. Mr. Noyes was released to the custody of his mother.”
Noyes arraignment was scheduled for July 21, 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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