GROTON — On Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, at 3:49 p.m., Sergeant Gordon Candow of the Groton Police Department was among the police officers notified by dispatch of multiple reports of an erratic driver who was heading east on Main Street (Route 119).
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Sergeant Gordon Candow and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“Dispatch informed us that a white Buick with Florida license plates was swerving into the oncoming lane and brake checking,” Sgt. Candow said. “Dispatch stated that the Buick had passed Haffner’s Gas Station. I was inside the gas station at the time.”
Sergeant Candow said he entered his cruiser, activated the blue emergency lights, and attempted to catch up to the Buick.
“Dispatch informed us that the Buick had swerved into the oncoming lane again and was now passing Filho’s restaurant [i.e., Filho’s Cucina],” Sgt. Candow said.
Sergeant Candow caught up to the vehicle.
Sergeant Candow said that he got behind the vehicle and, as they approached the Mobil station at 3 Boston Road, he observed the Buick swerve over the fog line and strike the snowbank at the end of the station’s entrance. Sergeant Candow said he had his blue lights activated and had sounded the siren multiple times.
“The Buick pulled into the lot of the Jenepher Spencer Coldwell Banker Real Estate building at 48 Boston Road,” Sgt. Candow said.
Sergeant Candow said he pulled in behind the Buick and stopped to make contact with the operator, at which point the Buick reversed, backed into the front of his cruiser, and then pulled forward.
Sergeant Candow then notified dispatch of what occurred and pulled alongside the Buick, so the front of his cruiser blocked the operator from exiting through the driver’s side door.
“Based on the operator’s actions and the totality of the circumstances I exited my cruiser and drew my firearm,” Sgt. Candow said.
At this time, Detective Justin Zink of the Pepperell Police Department arrived on scene to assist.
“I kept my firearm pointed at the low ready position (pointed at the ground). At no time did I point the firearm at the operator,” Sgt. Candow said.
Using the front of his cruiser for cover, Sergeant Candow ordered the driver to shut off the vehicle.
“The operator was an older female and seemed panicked. When the engine was off, I went around to the passenger side of the vehicle to make sure the operator was not armed,” Sgt. Candow said. “I informed Detective Zink we could holster.”
Detective Zink moved Sergeant Candow’s cruiser so he could make contact with the driver, who was later identified as Phyllis Colby.
According to police, Phyllis Allyn Colby, 75, is a resident of Townsend, MA.
Sergeant Candow said that Detective Zink informed him that he had received a complaint about a vehicle matching Colby’s vehicle. Sergeant Candow said the vehicle had reportedly been seen in Pepperell crashing into snowbanks and traveling in the wrong lane, and that Detective Zink was attempting to stop the vehicle.
“I asked the operator if she was ok which she said she was, and then I asked for her license and registration. The operator struggled to retrieve her license from her wallet, which was inside a fanny pack she was wearing.
Sergeant Candow asked Colby if she was okay, and she said she was. He then asked for her driver’s license and registration, and she handed him her license. Sergeant Candow said Colby struggled to retrieve her license from her wallet, which was inside a fanny pack she was wearing.
“While speaking with Ms. Colby I detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle. Ms. Colby’s eyes were glassy and bloodshot,” Sgt. Candow said. “I asked Ms. Colby for her registration. Ms. Colby leaned over to open the glove box and pulled out a packet that was printed off of the internet. The printout looked like a news article. I returned it to Ms. Colby and asked for her registration again. She then tried to hand me scratch tickets.”
Sergeant Candow said he asked for the registration again, and Colby said she did not know what that was.
“I asked Ms. Colby where she was coming from,” Sgt. Candow said. “Ms. Colby said she didn’t know where she was and then became emotional. I asked Ms. Colby what was wrong and she said she is upset about the ‘Guthrie kidnapping.’ I asked Ms. Colby if she had anything to drink today and she said she had a cocktail a while ago. Ms. Colby stated that she was glad we stopped her because she was lost and didn’t know where she was. Ms. Colby said she was on her way to Nahant to visit her sister.”
At around this time, Officer Justine Wagner arrived on scene.
“I asked Ms. Colby to get out of the vehicle. Ms. Colby opened the door and tried to unlock her seat belt from the side closest to the door,” Sgt. Candow said. “I told Ms. Colby she would have to unlock the seat belt from the other side. Ms. Colby was able to unlock the seat belt after a brief struggle.”
Sergeant Candow said Colby then attempted to get out of the vehicle and grabbed the driver’s door with both hands, leaning on it to help herself up and maintain her balance.
“When she was out of the vehicle, she was extremely unsteady on her feet, and we assisted her to stand up,” Sgt. Candow said. “Ms. Colby was keeping her back up against her vehicle so she wouldn’t fall.”
Sergeant Candow asked Colby to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) to ensure that it was safe for her to operate a vehicle.
“Ms. Colby said she would take the tests,” Sgt. Candow said. “While speaking with Ms. Colby, I detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath.”
Sergeant Candow said the parking lot was level, free of “major defects,” and clear of debris, and that it was still daylight at the time.
“I asked Ms. Colby if she could stand up straight with her arms at her sides,” Sgt. Candow said. “When she stood up straight, she immediately began to sidestep to her right.”
Sergeant Candow said he had to grab Colby to prevent her from falling.
“Ms. Colby was unable to stand up without leaning on her vehicle or she would fall,” Sgt. Candow said. “Ms. Colby became upset again and she referred to the Guthrie kidnapping. I asked her if she knew anyone involved, and she said she didn’t, she just thinks it’s sad.”
“While Ms. Colby was leaning back on her car, I asked Ms. Colby if she had any medical issues with her eyes and if she wore glasses or contacts,” Sgt. Candow said. Later adding, “I asked Ms. Colby if she was taking any prescribed medication.”
The first field sobriety test Sergeant Candow asked Colby 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 observed Ms. Colby’s eyes to have equal pupil size and equal tracking,” Sgt. Candow said. “I also observed a lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes, a distinct nystagmus in both eyes and an onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees.”
Sergeant Candow then asked Colby if she was able to stand on one foot.
“Ms. Colby said, ‘I can’t stand up without leaning my back on my car,” Sgt. Candow said. “I believed Ms. Colby would fall and injure herself if I asked her to attempt any further physical tests.”
The last test Sergeant Candow offered was the portable breath test device.
“Ms. Colby agreed to take the test,” Sgt. Candow said. “Ms. Colby’s result was 0.182%.”
At this time, Sergeant Candow formed the opinion that Colby was under the influence of liquor.
Sergeant Candow said Colby was placed under arrest, handcuffed behind her back, and placed in the rear of Officer Wagner’s cruiser for transport.
“Officer Violette performed an inventory of the vehicle per department policy and Groton Collision towed the vehicle,” Sergeant Candow said. “Officer Wagner transported Ms. Colby to the station for booking.”
Sergeant Candow said Colby was booked in the usual manner and afforded all applicable rights. He said she was advised of her Miranda rights, which were read to her, and that she signed indicating she understood those rights. Sergeant Candow said she was also advised of her rights outlined in the Statutory Rights and Consent Form. He said she acknowledged that she understood those rights and elected to take a chemical test, signing the Statutory Rights and Consent Form to indicate her acknowledgment.
“As a certified operator, I administered the chemical test to Ms. Colby,” Sgt. Candow said. “The test was performed on the Alcotest9510 breath machine that is currently certified and I have every reason to believe that it was functioning properly. I entered Ms. Colby’s information into the breath test unit and waited the 15-minute observation period using the stopwatch mode on my phone.”
Sergeant Candow reported that the observation period began at 5:25 p.m. and ended at 5:40 p.m.
“During the observation period, I stood in front of Ms. Colby while conversing,” Sgt. Candow said. “At no time did she vomit, belch, hiccup or cough, nor did she put her fingers in her mouth. Once the observation period ended, I proceeded to administer the test to her.”
During the first breath sample, Colby placed the entire mouthpiece in her mouth, blew for approximately two seconds, and then stopped. The breath-testing device registered “mouth alcohol,” indicating the sample may have reflected alcohol remaining in the mouth rather than a valid deep-lung breath sample, and a second test had to be administered.
“I performed a second observation period. The observation period started at 5:52 p.m. and ended at 6:07 p.m.,” Sgt. Candow said. Later adding, “Once the observation period ended, I proceeded to administer the test to her. When Ms. Colby was providing her second breath sample she stopped in the middle of the attempt to take a breath and started blowing again. The test was incomplete and terminated. The result of the test was 0.138% for Ms. Colby’s first breath sample, 0.081% for calibration check and no subject test two. The machine asked for another test with the same information, which I used. I administered the test again to Ms. Colby. The results of the test were 0.155% for Ms. Colby’s first breath sample, 0.081% for the calibration check, and 0.142% for her second breath sample. Ms. Colby was informed of the results and provided a copy of notice of suspension.”
While reviewing Colby’s Board of Probation (BOP) record, Sergeant Candow observed a prior DUI (driving under the influence) charge from Aug. 15, 2008, in Highlands County, Florida.
Phyllis Allyn Colby, 75, of Townsend, was charged with the following violations/offenses:
- OUI-Liquor or 0.08%, Second Offense
- Negligent Operation of Motor Vehicle
- Market Lanes Violation
“At approximately 7:03 p.m. Bail Commissioner Matt Day released Ms. Colby on personal recognizance,” Sgt. Candow said. “She was given her property and signed the property release form. Ms. Colby was picked up by her ex-husband.”
Colby’s arraignment was scheduled for the morning of Feb. 17, 2026, in Ayer District Court.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in February, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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