WESTFORD — On Saturday, August 23, 2025, at approximately 2:11 a.m., Officer Bradley Walk of the Westford Police Department was stopped at a stop sign on Cold Spring Road at its intersection with Forge Village Road, facing north.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Bradley Walk and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“While stopped at the stop sign, I observed a vehicle, bearing Massachusetts Registration [# redacted] traveling eastbound at what I perceived to be a high rate of speed,” Officer Walk said. Later adding, “As the vehicle passed my location, I immediately took a right-hand turn to get behind the vehicle. Once I got behind the vehicle, I paced the vehicle at approximately 50 mph and then activated my blue emergency lights as we were traveling in the posted 30 mph zone.”
Officer Walk stated that the vehicle continued without braking for about a quarter mile before activating its right blinker to signal a turn onto Patten Road.
“At this time, I informed Westford police dispatch I was attempting to stop the vehicle, and was now traveling westbound on Patten Road,” Officer Walk said. “The vehicle continued approximately .25 miles down Patten Road, going approximately 20 mph the whole time, while I followed behind the vehicle with my emergency blue lights along with the siren activated.”
Officer Walk said the vehicle eventually came to a stop in front of 17 Patten Road.
“Due to the abnormal length of time it took for the vehicle to stop, upon approach, I asked the operator to take his keys out of the ignition for officer safety,” Officer Walk said. “The operator, and sole occupant of the vehicle, identified himself as Anirudh Balaji (MA OLN [Operator’s License Number]: [# redacted]) when requested, but was unable to provide me with a copy of the vehicle’s registration.”
According to police, Anirudh Balaji, 21, is a resident of Tewksbury, MA. Court documents indicate he’s single and works in “security.”
“Balaji handed me a vehicle inspection report, but when I inquired if he had the registration, he stated he did not know,” Officer Walk said. “I observed Balaji’s speech to be thick and slurred, and his eyes to be bloodshot and glossy, as well as there to be an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his person.”
Officer Walk stated that he asked Balaji why he hadn’t pulled over when he first saw the cruiser’s blue lights, and Balaji replied that he wasn’t sure the officer was trying to stop him until the siren was activated on Patten Road.
Officer Walk stated that he observed two open four-packs of Cutwater canned cocktails and an opened box of BeatBox alcoholic drinks inside the vehicle.
“I know both of those drinks to be alcoholic beverages based on my training and experience,” Officer Walk said. “I then asked Balaji how much he has had to drink tonight, to which he stated he only drank one to two drinks. Balaji did not specify the types or size of those drinks.”
At this time, Sergeant Christopher Musick and Officer Tyler Bella arrived on scene.
“While Officer Bella walked up to the vehicle, I took Balaji’s Massachusetts Driver’s License back to my car to conduct a CJIS [Criminal Justice Information Services] inquiry on the license,” Officer Walk said. “Due to my CJIS not loading in a timely manner, I requested dispatch to run the OLN [Operator’s License Number]. Dispatch then informed me the operator had an active driver’s license.”
Officer Walk stated that he informed Sergeant Musick of his observations and told him he intended to conduct standardized field sobriety testing with Balaji based on those observations.
Officer Walk then returned to Balaji’s vehicle and asked him if he was willing to take field sobriety tests.
“Balaji agreed and exited his vehicle. It should be noted it was approximately sixty degrees out, low wind and no precipitation,” Officer Walk said. “This section of Patten Road is a flat, asphalt paved road with streetlights.”
The first field sobriety test Officer Walk asked Balaji 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.
“Balaji stood with his feet together and arms by his side when instructed,” Officer Walk said. Officer Walk stated that he explained the test instructions to Balaji, who confirmed that he understood them when asked.
“I used the tip of my chrome pen as the stimulus,” Officer Walk said. “I held the pen approximately 12-15 inches from his eyes. I checked for pupil size and resting nystagmus. I observed the pupils to be equal size and did not observe any resting nystagmus. I then checked his eyes for equal tracking. Both eyes tracked the stimulus at the same time. I then checked both eyes for lack of smooth pursuit and observed HGN in both eyes. I checked both eyes for nystagmus at maximum deviation. I observed involuntary shuttering of both eyes at maximum deviation. I then checked for nystagmus prior to 45 degrees and observed nystagmus in both eyes at approximately 35 degrees. I checked vertical nystagmus and was unable to observe HGN due to Balaji moving his head up with the stimulus. I observed the
involuntary shuttering of the eyes two times per eye for each test except the vertical test.”
The next field sobriety test Officer Walk asked Balaji 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.
“Balaji stated he had no medical conditions that would affect him walking. Balaji was wearing white Nike sneakers,” Officer Walk said. “I found a straight line in the roadway in front of Balaji’s car and informed him of the instructions to this next test. I began the instructional portion of the test and informed him not to begin until he was told to do so. I then demonstrated three out of the nine steps to Balaji and then conducted a proper turn and took three steps back. Balaji stated he understood all the instructions. When Balaji was told he may begin the test, he proceeded to take 10 improper steps, with approximately one foot gap between strides, and stepped offline with every step. Balaji then proceeded to make an improper turn, and then make 12 improper steps back, swinging his hands above six inches away from his body, and only stopping when he reached the hood of his car. Balaji displayed a total of five clues on this test.”
The third field sobriety test Officer Walk asked Balaji 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.
“I asked Balaji to stand with his feet together and arms by his side. Balaji was advised not to begin the test until instructed to do so,” Officer Walk said.
Officer Walk stated that he told Balaji he could choose either his right or left leg for the test but must lift it about six inches off the ground, keep his arms at his sides, maintain eye contact with the raised foot, and count out loud (“one one thousand, two one thousand,” and so on) until instructed to stop.
“During this instructional phase, he started early two times and had to be reminded not to begin early,” Officer Walk said. “Balaji was informed he may begin when he was ready. Balaji raised his left leg approximately six inches off the ground for approximately two seconds, before swaying his arms up to his shoulder level and hopping around, putting his foot down to regain balance multiple times. I instructed Balaji to please count out loud as that is part of the test. Balaji started counting out loud from 8 one thousand, while still hopping around and swaying his arms, until he counted to 15 one thousand, and put both feet down at 22 seconds. Balaji stood with both feet on the ground for the remainder of the 8 seconds left in the 30 second test. I observed four clues on this test.”
Officer Walk stated that he informed Balaji the final roadside test would be a portable breath test, but Balaji refused to consent to provide a breath sample.
“At this time, I formed the opinion that Balaji was under the influence of an intoxicating liquor,” Officer Walk said. “Balaji was advised he was being placed under arrest for operating under the influence of alcohol.”
Officer Walk stated that he handcuffed Balaji, ensuring the cuffs were double-locked and properly adjusted, before placing him in the rear seat of his cruiser, marked #23. He then notified dispatch that Balaji was in custody and requested the next available tow truck for the vehicle.
Officer Walk stated that Officer Bella conducted a motor vehicle inventory in accordance with department policy and seized two Cutwater alcoholic beverage cans and one Noca hard iced tea can, each about three-quarters full, from the passenger seat. He added that the cans were later placed in temporary evidence locker #2 at the Westford Police Department and assigned an evidence number.
“I then transported Balaji back to the Westford Police Station to undergo the booking process,” Officer Walk said. “Balaji was transported into the booking room where he was searched again and then unhandcuffed before being placed into the booking cell.”
Balaji was arrested and charged with the following:
- Operating Under the Influence of Liquor
- Possess Open Container of Alcohol in Motor Vehicle
- Speeding
Officer Walk stated that Balaji was advised of his right to an evidentiary breath test, which he refused. He said Balaji was then issued a notice of license suspension, and copies of the suspension and the citation were placed with Balaji’s property.
“Balaji was released on personal recognizance at 4:05 a.m. by Bail Commissioner Charlene McCormack,” Officer Walk said.
Balaji was arraigned in Ayer District Court on Aug. 25, 2025. Following his arraignment he was released on personal recognizance.
According to the criminal docket, a motion to preserve evidence was filed on Sept. 5, 2025.
Balaji attended a pretrial hearing on Sept. 24, 2025.
Balaji’s next court date is a Discovery Compliance and Enforcement hearing scheduled for Nov. 14, 2025.
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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