CLINTON — On Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, at approximately 8:34 p.m., Officer Kristopher Vazquez of the Clinton Police Department was among the police units dispatched to the intersection of Main and Water streets following a report of a rear-end collision involving two vehicles.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Kristopher Vazquez and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
Officer Vazquez said he arrived at the scene at approximately 8:35 p.m., and that Sergeant Brendon O’Malley and Patrolman Shane Gilman arrived shortly thereafter.
“As I approached the scene of the accident, I could see three motor vehicles parked in the travel lane, facing southbound on Main Street,” Officer Vazquez said.
Officer Vazquez said the first vehicle was a grey 2014 Jeep Wrangler with Massachusetts plates.
“The grey Jeep was at the stop line of the intersection as if it was waiting for a green light,” Officer Vazquez said.
The vehicle directly behind the grey Jeep was a grey 2011 Hyundai Sonata with Massachusetts plates.
“I took note of the close proximity of the two vehicles as I got out of my cruiser and walked towards the scene,” Officer Vazquez said, adding that the third involved motor vehicle was a red 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee with Massachusetts plates.
“After parking my cruiser behind the three vehicles, I made contact with the operator of the red Jeep, who was later identified as [40-year-old] Neuler [last name redacted],” Officer Vazquez said. “Neuler explained to me that he had witnessed the crash. Due to my concern for those involved in the collision, I immediately approached them when I heard that Neuler was not involved.”
Officer Vazquez then approached the operator of the gray Hyundai Sonata, who did not appear injured. The driver identified himself as Alex S. Herbert, 33, by handing Officer Vazquez his driver’s license.
“While standing next to the open passenger’s side window of the Sonata, I was overwhelmed by the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage,” Officer Vazquez said. “I also noticed that Alex’s eyes were red and glassy. Alex was sitting in the driver’s seat of the Sonata with the engine of the vehicle still running. I asked Alex for the vehicle’s registration paperwork, and he handed me a copy of a filled-out crash report. I took note that Alex’s movements were very slow and deliberate as if it took his full concentration to reach over, grasp the crash report, and hand it to me. Alex spoke to me very slowly with a thick tongue and slurred words. Alex would also pause in between words while in the middle of a sentence.”
Officer Vazquez told Hebert he didn’t need a copy of an unrelated crash report and again requested the vehicle’s registration.
“Alex replied to me ‘that’s all that they gave me!’” Officer Vazquez said. “As he replied, Alex’s tone changed as he raised his voice, consistent with someone who was upset. Alex took the documents from me and slammed them down on the front passenger seat.”
Officer Vazquez relocated to the driver’s side window of the Sonata as Patrolman Gilman spoke with the operator of the gray Jeep, who identified herself to police as 27-year-old named Elaina.
“While standing at the driver’s side window of the Sonata, I could clearly smell the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from Alex’s breath as we continued to converse,” Officer Vazquez said. “When I asked Alex to shut of the engine of the Sonata, he replied by stating in a slow, deliberate, and slurred manor, ‘Officially, I cannot say no, and officially, I cannot say yes.’”
Officer Vazquez said that when he clarified that he wasn’t asking Hebert to reply “yes or no” and that he just wanted him to shut his engine off, he complied.
“Upon my request, Alex agreed to perform voluntary standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs),” Officer Vazquez said. “I had Alex stand on the white line of the roadway behind his vehicle. When at the location where the SFSTs would be performed, Alex was facing away from me. When I asked Alex to face me, he nearly lost his footing, stumbling as he turned. At this time, I asked Alex how much he had to drink. He replied, ‘Like four or five f*ck*ng drinks.’”
Officer Vazquez followed up by asking Herbert when he began drinking, and Herbert replied it was “like a half hour ago.”
“I took note that the road was relatively flat, dry, and free of debris. Just prior to me beginning the tests, Sergeant O’Malley ensured that all emergency lights were not flashing,” Officer Vazquez said.
The first Officer Vazquez asked Hebert to perform was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus.
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 instructed Alex to stand with his feet together and hands down by his side,” Officer Vazquez said. “I demonstrated the position as I instructed Alex. Alex appeared to slightly sway back and forth as he maintained this position.”
Officer Vazquez then held his pen in front of Hebert’s chest and asked him if he could see the tip of the pen, and Hebert replied “yes.”
“When I asked him the color of the tip of my pen, he replied ‘black,’” Officer Vazquez said. “Just to ensure Alex’s vision was not obscured, I asked him to put his finger on the black tip of my pen. Alex did so. Due to my flashlight being pointed at Alex’s chest, I asked him if it bothered his eyes. He replied, ‘no.’”
Officer Vazquez then instructed Hebert not to move his head or body and to follow the tip of his pen using only his eyes.
“Alex confirmed that he understood my instructions and did not have any questions,” Officer Vazquez said. “I raised the tip of my pen slightly above Alex’s eye level and held it there momentarily. With my pen in that position, I could clearly see that Alex was displaying resting nystagmus in both eyes. As I began moving my pen side to side, I also observed distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to a 45-degree angle in both eyes. Afterwards, I turned my pen so that it was horizontal and began moving it up and down. While doing this, I observed vertical gaze nystagmus in both eyes.”
The second field sobriety test Officer Vazquez asked Hebert 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 nine steps (counted out loud), then turn around and return to the starting point in the same way.
“I instructed Alex to place his left foot on the white line of the roadway with his right foot in front of it (heel to toe),” Officer Vazquez said. “I added that Alex had to keep his arms down by his side and stay in that position until I told him otherwise.”
Officer Vazquez said that while he was verbally instructing Hebert, he demonstrated the test for him.
Officer Vazquez said that while Hebert was standing in the demonstrated starting position, he began to stumble on his right foot.
“His right foot left the white line, first landing to the left of the line as he caught himself from falling, then again to the right as Alex clumsily overcorrected,” Officer Vazquez said.
Officer Vazquez then told Hebert to take nine heel-to-toe steps while keeping his arms by his side.
“Upon hearing my partial instruction, Alex immediately began the test,” Officer Vazquez said. “I instructed Alex not to start the test until I told him to. He returned to the position that he was instructed to maintain.”
Officer Vazquez then demonstrated the test by taking three heel-to-toe steps, explaining that Hebert would be required to complete nine steps. Officer Vazquez said he continued the demonstration and instructed Hebert to turn by pivoting on his left foot and taking a series of small steps with the other foot.
“I finished by demonstrating and instructing Alex to take nine steps after turning,” Officer Vazquez said. “Again, I demonstrated three heel-to-toe steps. Alex confirmed that he did not have any questions regarding the test.”
Officer Vazquez said that after Hebert’s first step, he raised his arms straight out to the side, parallel to the ground.
Officer Vazquez said that on steps three and five, Hebert’s left foot was off the white line, and on steps four, five, six, seven, and eight, he failed to step heel-to-toe by several inches.
“Alex took 10 steps in total prior to making a turn inconsistent with the one that I had demonstrated. Alex turned by abruptly, spinning around without taking a series of small steps as I instructed and demonstrated,” Officer Vazquez added. “After turning, Alex did not take any heel-to-toe steps, leaving several inches in between his feet. Alex took 11 steps in total on his return. On steps five, nine, and 11, Alex stepped off the white line.”
The third test Officer Vazquez asked Hebert to perform was the one leg stand. This test involves lifting one leg about six inches off the ground, while holding the foot in a position parallel to the ground, with arms kept at the sides.
“I instructed Alex to stand with his feet together and his hands by his side,” Officer Vazquez said. He further instructed Alex to raise one foot six inches off the ground and to count out loud.
“I told Alex to continue the test until I told him to stop, even if his foot momentarily touched the ground,” Officer Vazquez said. “Upon me inquiring, Alex stated that he hurt both of his knees when he was 16 years of age while skateboarding. Alex also stated that he works on his feet all day doing demolition work.”
Officer Vazquez asked Herbert whether he worked out, and Herbert replied, “yes…every day.” Officer Vazquez said that Hebert also replied “yes” when he asked him if he bench presses and does squats while he works out.
“I told Alex that he seemed like a ‘very athletic guy’ and he replied, ‘yes, I am,’” Officer Vazquez said. “I noticed that Alex was wearing a pair of brown worn-down work boots. The steel toe of the boots were visible through the worn leather, consistent with someone who had spent many hours working in such boots. After our brief conversation, Alex began the test by raising his right foot. Alex put his right foot down three times prior to switching to his left foot. Alex put his left foot down four times before the end of the test.”
At this time, Officer Vazquez said that based on his observations, training, and experience, he believed that Hebert had operated a motor vehicle while impaired by “intoxicating liquor.”
Officer Vazquez placed Hebert under arrest, handcuffed him, and then transported him to the Clinton police station for booking.
“Upon arriving at the Clinton police station, I opened Alex’s door and was overwhelmed by the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the prisoner compartment of my cruiser,” Officer Vazquez said. “Such an odor was not present in my cruiser, prior to Alex being in there.”
Officer Vazquez said he held on to Hebert’s right arm as he escorted him into the holding area of the booking room.
“Alex began to forcefully sway as if he was having trouble maintaining his balance. I had to forcefully keep him upright out of concern of him falling while handcuffed behind the back,” Officer Vazquez said. “Alex became irate, believing that I was attempting to push him around. Alex began to pull against my grasp and yell at me. Alex calmed down shortly after I explained my intentions.”
Prior to the booking process, Officer Vazquez said he read Hebert his Miranda warnings from a card he carries on his person, and Hebert stated that he understood.
“During the booking process, Alex stated that he recently consumed four alcoholic beverages. When asked what kind of drinks he consumed, Alex stated that they were mixed drinks,” Officer Vazquez said. “When I attempted to gain clarification on what type of mixed drinks Alex had consumed, he stated, ‘Just give me something strong. That’s what I said.’ I subsequently asked Alex if there were any drugs in his system, and he replied, that he smoked ‘a lot’ of cannabis just prior to my interaction with him on Main Street.”
Officer Vazquez added that while Officer Gilman was fingerprinting Hebert, without being prompted or questioned, Alex stated, “Yes. I’m a little f*ck*ng drunk.”
“I asked Alex if he stated that he was drunk and he replied, ‘yes,’” Officer Vazquez said. “Throughout the booking process, Alex would sway as he stood and occasionally stumble as he walked.”
Officer Vazquez said that after Hebert was read the statutory rights and consent form, he refused to submit to an evidentiary breath test to determine his blood alcohol concentration.
“Note: Both Elaina and Neuler reported that the Sonata rear-ended Elaina’s jeep as she was stopped at the red light,” Officer Vazquez said.
Alex S. Hebert, 33, was arrested and charged with the following:
- Operating Under the Influence of an Intoxicating Liquor
- Operating Under the Influence of Drugs
- Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle
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.
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