CLINTON — On Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, at about 11:42 p.m., Officer John McNamara was dispatched to Wilson Street after a 911 caller reported seeing a black pickup truck whose driver stopped, exited, vomited in the roadway, then got back in and continued toward Berlin Street. The caller said the truck may have struck something near Berlin and Chace streets before she lost sight of it.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer John McNamara and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“At approximately 11:43 p.m., Officer Robert Champagne, Officer Brendon Rutherford, and I arrived in the area to look for the black truck,” Officer McNamara said. “I drove down Berlin Street as well as Chace Street and did not observe the vehicle. Officer Champagne searched the area of Wilson Street and Berlin Street as well. While searching for the vehicle, Officer Champagne observed what appeared to be fresh vomit in the roadway on Berlin Street near Wilson Street with tire tracks going through it.”
Officer McNamara said that Officer Champagne then stated over the radio that he heard a vehicle’s engine revving and tires screeching as it came off Kilmurray and back onto Berlin Street.
“Moments later, Officer Rutherford stated he observed a black truck drive by him at a high rate of speed and possibly entered the Woodlands Condominium Complex,” Officer McNamara said.
Officer Champagne then contacted the Berlin Police Department, and advised them to watch for a black pickup truck driving erratically in case it entered their jurisdiction.
At about 12:13 a.m., Officer Champagne observed a vehicle with its headlights on and music playing, parked in the wood line, possibly down a trail.
Officer Champagne then radioed to the other officers to meet him at the trail where the vehicle was.
Officer Champagne and Officer Rutherford walked down the path while Officer McNamara drove his cruiser down it.
Officer McNamara said that once he saw the truck, he activated his blue emergency, overhead lights and approached the vehicle. Officer McNamara said he ran the truck’s plates through the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) in the mobile data terminal in his cruiser and the registration came back to a black Chevy Silverado owned by 29-year-old Brendon Farrell.
Officer McNamara said the truck’s brake lights illuminated the trail and the vehicle was running.
“Officer Rutherford then ordered the operator to shut the vehicle off and to step out of the vehicle, he was then identified as the owner of the vehicle Mr. Brendon Farrell,” Officer McNamara said. “We then observed a male party in the passenger seat later identified as Mr. Ethan [last name redacted]. At this time, we detained both parties until we assessed the situation.”
Officer Champagne identified Ethan, checked his sobriety and he was released from the scene, Officer McNamara said.
“After exiting the vehicle, I could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the operator Mr. Farrell, his eyes were bloodshot, glossy red, and his speech was slurred,” Officer McNamara said. “At this time, I asked Mr. Farrell if he had been drinking tonight, to which he stated yes, he had four coronas. I then observed what appeared to be throw up all over him. I then asked if he was willing to conduct Standardized Field Sobriety Tests to which he stated yes.”
Officer McNamara stated that he asked Farrell whether he had any injuries that would prevent him from completing the test, and Farrell replied that he did not.
“I then asked if he was comfortable completing the test on the trail which he stated yes,” Officer McNamara said. “It should be noted the trail was very compact and flat. At this time, we turned off the emergency blue lights and turned on solid white non flashing lights that illuminated the trail. I then asked Mr. Farrell to stand with his feet together and his hands by his side while I explained the tests.”
Officer McNamara then instructed Farrell to recite the alphabet from start to finish without singing or skipping any letters, and Farrell said he understood the instructions.
“Mr. Farrell started with the letter ‘A’ and got to the letter ‘P,’ then could not complete the rest properly,” Officer McNamara said.
The second field sobriety test Officer McNamara asked Farrell to perform was the “Nine Step Walk and Turn.” This test requires the subject to count out loud as they take nine heel-to-toe steps along a straight line (like a visible line on a road), then turn on one foot and return in the opposite direction.
“I advised him to place his hands by his sides and one foot in front of the other while I explained then demonstrated the test. After explaining the test, I had him start,” Officer McNamara said. “Before starting, Mr. Farrell placed his right foot in front of his left, not touching. Mr. Farrell began and had his feet far apart throughout the test; he went only a few steps and began stumbling, then turned around and continued to stumble without counting out loud.”
At this time, Officer McNamara advised Farrell he was being placed under arrest for operating under the influence of alcohol, was placed in handcuffs, and escorted to the rear of his cruiser.
While Farrell was seated in the prisoner compartment of his cruiser, Officer McNamara read him his Miranda warnings from a card he keeps in his right breast pocket.
Officer McNamara then transported Farrell to the Clinton Police Station for booking.
“Patrolman Champagne remained on scene to await the tow, and to conduct a motor vehicle inventory per department policy,” Officer McNamara said. “During the inventory Patrolman Champagne discovered two open Bud Light Lime bottles. One bottle was in the cup holder, full, and cold to the touch. The other was behind the driver seat area, almost empty and also cold to the touch. Patrolman Champagne also observed the rest of the 18 pack approximately 12 left cold to the touch. Photos were taken of the bottles and then brought back to the station as evidence. Mr. Farrell’s vehicle was then towed by Guaranty Auto.”
During the booking process, Farrell declined to take a breathalyzer test.
Brendon Farrell was charged with the following:
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place earlier this month, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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