Fitchburg man held without bail after Leominster traffic stop results in trafficking, OUI-drug charges

LEOMINSTER — On Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, at about 10:05 p.m., Officer Tyler Labell of the Leominster Police Department observed a vehicle traveling on the wrong side of Oakwind Hollow Road attempting to turn onto Pleasant Street.

(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Tyler Labell and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)

“I am very familiar with Pleasant Street as it is the area I patrol each night,” Officer Labell explained. “The intersection of Oakwind Hollow is a blind turn and there used to be a mirror for cars to see vehicles coming up Pleasant Street. The vehicle located where it was, is a very dangerous location.”

Officer Labell activated his cruiser’s emergency lights, pulled in front of the vehicle, and the vehicle came to a stop.

“I noticed a male operator and female passenger,” Officer Labell said. “The car engine was on as I exited my cruiser, activated my body worn camera, and walked to the driver’s side window. The driver’s side window was already down as I walked up.”

Officer Labell said he asked the driver what was going on tonight.

“The operator, later identified as Nicholas Zimei, stated that he pulled over to text,” Officer Labell said.

According to police, Nicholas M. Zimei, 25, is a resident of Fitchburg, MA.

“I asked Nicholas if he knew where he was at that moment. Nicholas stated that he doesn’t know what the street is, then pointed at Pleasant Street and stated that he knows it is Lancaster Street,” Officer Labell said. “I told him it is not Lancaster Street and that he was on the wrong side of the road. At this time, a vehicle had to go around us in the wrong lane. I advised Nicholas how dangerous of a location it was, and asked if he was drinking or doing any drugs this evening.”

Officer Labell said that Zimei had two drinking glasses in the center console’s cup holders and Zimei stated it was Coca-Cola as he picked up a cup.

“I asked if I could smell it, Nicholas responded ‘yeah’ and handed it to me,” Officer Labell said. “I smelled the glass and could smell alcoholic beverage coming from it.”

At this time, Officer Labell requested that dispatch send another officer to the scene for assistance.

“Nicholas then asked if I wanted his registration and I advised that I would take that as well as his license,” Officer Labell said. “Nicholas then handed me his license and stated something that was hard to understand because he was slurring his speech. Nicholas then told me that his ‘car just got crashed.’”

Officer Labell asked Zimei, once again, if Zimei had anything to drink that evening.

“Nicholas stated that he did not drink any alcohol but was on a prescription. I asked Nicholas to shut off the vehicle and exited the car,” Officer Labell said. “When Nicholas opened the door to the car, I could smell alcoholic beverage. I asked Nicholas to walk to the back of the car where it was safer from traffic. As we were walking towards the back, Nicholas stumbled.”

Officer Labell said that once they got the back of the car, he asked Zimei to be honest and tell him what he had been drinking.

“Nicholas said he was being honest and that he was on a Xanax prescription, which caused him to ‘be like this,’” Officer Labell said. “I asked Nicholas if he wanted to perform a field sobriety test, and he stated yes but stated he would fail because he’s on Xanax. Nicholas stated there was a whip it tank, and pointed to the car. I stated I could smell the alcohol and Nicholas stated ‘well there is’ then stopped and looked to his right.”

Officer Labell again asked Zimei if he wished to perform field sobriety tests, and Zimei stated that he could.

“Nicholas again stated that he is on a Xanax prescription and has a whip it tank. Nicholas then stated he was on probation. I asked Nicholas to place his keys on the vehicle,” Officer Labell said. “I asked Nicholas if he had any weapons and he stated no.”

At this time, Officer Labell said he had Officer Noah DeCesare block the street with his cruiser because the location was not safe.

“I advised Nicholas to walk to the white ‘stop’ line. Nicholas stated he was going to fail because he was on Xanax,” Officer Labell said.

Officer Labell said he walked with Zimei to the ‘stop’ line, where it intersects with Pleasant Street.

“I advised Nicholas to stand on the white line and put his feet together,” Officer Labell said. “While Nicholas tried standing with his arms by his side, he was swaying, trying to find balance. I asked Nicholas if he wore any glasses or contacts and he stated no. I asked Nicholas if he had any injuries and he stated no.”

The first field sobriety test Officer Labell asked Zimei 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 advised Nicholas to keep his hands by his side,” Officer Labell said. “I placed a stimulus (my pen) about 12-15 inches from his face. I advised Nicholas that when I move the pen that he needs to follow it with his eyes.”

Officer Labell instructed Zimei not to move his head and to follow the pen with his eyes only.

“Nicholas stated he understood,” Officer Labell said. “I began to move the pen slowly to the right and back to the left multiple times. I then moved the pen up and down. Nicholas followed with his eyes only. There was a smooth pursuit and I did not see any nystagmus.”

After that was completed, Officer Labell told Zimei that the next field sobriety test he was going to ask him to perform was the walk and turn test. The walk-and-turn test requires the individual to walk heel-to-toe in a straight line with their hands at their sides for about nine steps (counted out loud), then turn around and return to the starting point in the same way.

Officer Labell said he advised Zimei that he would explain the instructions and that Zimei should not begin until told to do so, and instructed him to stand on the line with his feet together and his hands by his side.

 “I advised Nicholas that he was going to walk nine steps heel to toe, and do a slow turn and nine steps back,” Officer Labell said. “I showed Nicholas how to do the turn. I then advised Nicholas to put his right foot in front of his left with his hands by his side. Nicholas attempted to take a step. I informed him not to begin until I tell him to. At this time, a vehicle was coming down Oakwind Hollow. Officer DeCesare assisted the car, and I informed Nicholas we would wait.”

After the vehicle passed, Officer Labell again advised Zimei to place his right foot in front of his left with his hands by his side.

“Nicholas then stated ‘I’m so f*cked’ multiple times,” Officer Labell said. “I asked again if he was going to perform the test and he stated yes. I advised Nicholas again how to set up. Once Nicholas was set up for the test, I advised him to begin. Nicholas began taking the steps, but could not keep his feet heel to toe. On step seven, Nicholas stumbled off the line. After step nine, I informed Nicholas to turn around. Nicholas spun around and did not turn how I demonstrated.”

Officer Labell said that during the test, Zimei asked if there was anyone who could pick him up.

“On the way back, Nicholas was walking with his feet more side by side than heel to toe. Nicholas stumbled on step seven again,” Officer Labell said. “When Nicholas finished the nine steps, I advised him to turn around, put his feet together and hands by his side. I advised the next test was the one leg stand.”

The “one-leg stand” test requires the individual to lift one leg about six inches off the ground, hold the foot parallel to the ground, and keep the arms at the sides.

“I informed Nicholas that he would choose the leg,” Officer Labell said. “I informed Nicholas again to keep his hands by his side, but he continued to move around. I tried to explain the instructions and Nicholas grabbed his hat and stated, ‘This has to be a dream, right?’ I asked Nicholas to pay attention.”

Officer Labell instructed Zimei to lift his foot six inches off the ground and count “one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two,” and so on, up to 30.

“I informed Nicholas not to begin until I told him to,” Officer Labell said. “I told Nicholas to begin. Nicholas was counting in his head and his arms came away from his side. I advised Nicholas to count out loud. When Nicholas counted out loud, he had to put his foot down on the ‘four.’”

Officer Labell told Zimei to continue.

“Nicholas was swaying side to side and using his arms for balance,” Officer Zimei said. “Nicholas lifted his foot for four seconds again. Nicholas refused to try anymore after that.”

Officer Labell then told Zimei to place his hands behind his back and advised him that he was under arrest for operating under the influence of alcohol.

“I placed handcuffs on Nicholas’s wrists and he was pat frisked for any weapons,” Officer Labell said. “I asked Nicholas if his prescription was in the vehicle and he stated it was at his mom’s house. Nicholas stated that he did not need the prescription tonight.”

Officer Decesare transported Zimei to the Leominster Police Department for booking.

Officer Labell then approached Zimei’s female passenger, informed her that Zimei was under arrest, and advised her that she needed to arrange for a ride.

“I then asked dispatch to start a tow for the vehicle, and Quality was in route,” Officer Labell said. “I requested an officer also bring the supervisor’s cell phone for pictures.”

Officer Labell asked the female passenger what was in the “coke” and she said Coca Cola.

“I then asked what was he drinking then. [The female passenger] responded, ‘we have nips,’” Officer Label said. “[The female passenger] stated they were still in the car. I asked [her] if she would like to sit in the cruiser to stay warm and she stated yes.”

Officer Labell said he let the woman sit in the back of his cruiser with all of her belongings.

“At this time, Officer [Renzo] Vasconcelos arrived with the supervisor’s phone,” Officer Labell said. “I opened the front passenger door and took photos of the two drinks in the middle cup holders. I then took a picture of the whip it can on the floor of the front passenger side. I also took a picture of the bag of nips of vodka on the floor. There were four empty nips in the passenger side door, and I took a photo of those as well.”

Officer Labell smelled both cups that were in the middle console.

Officer Labell said the cup Nicholas handed him earlier smelled different than the other cup, and that by smelling them one after the other, he determined one contained only Coca Cola while the other contained alcohol.

“Officer Vasconcelos assisted me with the inventory search of the vehicle before it was towed,” Officer Labell said. “In the backpack in the back seat was a knife and stun gun. Officer Vasconcelos then found a clear plastic baggie containing round, orange pills.”

The pills were seized as evidence, and the stun gun was secured and transported to the police station, Officer Labell said.

Quality Towing & Recovery towed the vehicle from the scene.

Since the female passenger’s ride still hadn’t arrived, Officer Labell transported her to the Leominster Police Department so she could wait for her ride there.

“I brought Nicholas’s keys, wallet, and cell phone back to the police station to add to his property,” Officer Labell said. “The stun gun was also added to his property.”

Officer Labell weighed the orange pills on a scale, which registered 123 grams.

“I logged the pills into evidence, and placed them into locker #8 to be tested,” Officer Labell said. “I informed Detective [Jonathan] Monahan what I had found. Detective Monahan with his training and experience stated they were a Class B Controlled Substance. Based on the amount the pills weighed, Nicholas would also be charged trafficking a Class B substance. An email was sent to evidence, informing them where the pills are stored.”

Officer Labell requested that the pills be sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Officer Labell said that, during the booking process, Zimei agreed to take a breathalyzer test and “results state he blew a 0.03.”

“The legal limit in Massachusetts to operate a motor vehicle is 0.08,” Officer Labell said. “Because of that, Nicholas will not be charged OUI alcohol. Nicholas did inform me that he had taken Xanax, and did ‘whippets.’”

Officer Labell said there was also evidence and his female passenger’s statement indicating the ingestion of alcohol.

“Based on Nicholas’ and [his passenger’s] statements, I developed probable cause that Nicholas was under the influence of drugs, mixed with alcohol and was too impaired to operate a motor vehicle,” Officer Labell said. “Nicholas was on the wrong side of the road in a blind spot on Oakwind Hollow Road, which could have caused an accident and injury to themselves or others. In the vehicle was a glass of Coca Cola mixed with nips of Smirnoff, as well as a clear plastic baggie of a Class B controlled substance.”

Zimei was arraigned in Leominster District Court on Nov. 14, 2025. Following his arraignment, he was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing at the Commonwealth’s request. During the dangerousness hearing on Nov. 20, 2025, Zimei was deemed dangerous and ordered held without bail until March 9, 2026.

Zimei’s next court date is a probable cause hearing scheduled for Dec. 19, 2025.

---

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the arrest in this story took place in November, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.

To learn more about News Link Live’s unique business model, please read the following:

An online business model that could replace local newspapers

Why The Leominster Champion Failed

The Medium is the Message by Marshall McCLuhan

The Ego and the ID by Sigmund Freud