Oxford man caught leaving Dudley crash, found with pills in damaged SUV, faces OUI & drug charges

DUDLEY — On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:31 p.m., Officer Luis Pacheco of the Dudley Police Department was dispatched to the area of 269 West Main Street following a report of a multi-vehicle accident.

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

Sergeant Keith Remillard and Officer Dylan Reney also responded to the scene.

“Dispatch advised us that one vehicle had left the scene of the accident,” Officer Pacheco said. “While responding,
dispatch advised me the vehicle that left the scene was red-colored with front-end damage.”

Officer Pacheco said that dispatch also received a call reporting a red SUV, that appeared to have been involved in an accident, parked in the Cumberland Farms parking lot at 180 West Main Street.

“At this time, Officer Reney proceeded to the scene of the accident, and I proceeded to Cumberland Farms,” Officer Pacheco said. “Upon arrival, I observed a red-colored Ford SUV bearing MA plate [# redacted] parked at Cumberland Farms with heavy front and passenger-side damage.”

In the driver’s seat of the SUV was a male later identified as Jacob Johnson.

According to police, Jacob A. Johnson, 26, is a resident of Oxford, MA.

“In the front passenger seat was a female party later identified as Melanie [last name redacted],” Officer Pacheco said. “I approached the vehicle and asked both individuals to exit the vehicle due to the heavy damage including the front windshield broken in multiple areas. Both parties had no visible injuries, but the male party appeared to be disoriented.”

Officer Pacheco said he asked Johnson what happened and he said a woman struck his vehicle when he attempted to pass her.

“I advised Johnson the area near 269 West Main Street is not a legal passing area,” Officer Pacheco said. “As I continued to engage in conversation with Johnson, I detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his mouth. I asked Johnson if he had consumed any alcohol tonight, and he stated he had one ‘Corona’ at a restaurant in Connecticut.”

Officer Pacheco added that Johnson’s speech was slurred and he seemed confused.

“I then requested Johnson to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Johnson agreed and he was then asked if he had any medical conditions that would prevent him from completing these tests. Johnson stated he did not,” Officer Pacheco said. “Johnson also stated he could complete these tests in his current footwear which was work-style boots. Johnson also had glasses on and he stated he could complete the first test without his glasses.”

The first field sobriety test Officer Pacheco asked Johnson 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 explained the instructions to Johnson and asked if he had any questions,” Officer Pacheco said. “Johnson stated he did not. Johnson showed lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes. Johnson had distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes. Johnson had onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees in both eyes.”

The next field sobriety test Officer Pacheco asked Johnson 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.

“I placed Johnson in the ‘instructional position’ and then I explained the instructions and demonstrated the test,” Officer Pacheco said. “Johnson also had his glasses on for this test. Johnson stepped out of the ‘instructional position’ twice.”

Officer Pacheco asked Johnson if he had any questions, and Johnson said he did not.

“I advised Johnson to begin,” Officer Pacheco said. “Johnson walked nine steps forward and missed heel to toe once. Johnson turned around and continued nine steps back. Johnson missed heel to toe once, and stopped at nine steps and asked if he could stop.”

The third test Officer Johnson administered was the one leg stand. 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 explained and demonstrated the test and asked Johnson if he had any questions,” Officer Pacheco said. “Johnson stated he had no questions. I instructed Johnson to begin the test. Johnson placed his foot back down on the pavement. Johnson also bent his knee twice and used his arms for balance. Johnson was advised to continue with the test twice.”

The final test Officer Pacheco administered was a preliminary breath test, a portable breathalyzer used during roadside OUI investigations to estimate blood alcohol concentration. Johnson provided a sample that registered 0.06%.

“At this time I advised Johnson I would be issuing him a citation and would be towing his vehicle. Officer Reney performed a motor vehicle inventory,” Officer Pacheco said. “During the inventory, a wallet was located. Johnson stated it was his wallet. As I grabbed the wallet to inventory it, I felt a large, round, hard container inside the wallet and heard what sounded like pills hitting the glass container. Johnson looked at me at one point, and stated the pills were pain medication for his back. There were multiple different pills inside the non prescription glass container, and Johnson stated he is unable to obtain a prescription anymore. Johnson stated the pills were oxycodone.”

Officer Pacheco said that, at this time, he advised Johnson that he was under arrest and handcuffed him behind his back.

“Johnson requested his belongings in his pockets and his chain around his neck be given to [Melanie],” Officer Pacheco said. “As we attempted to hand [Melanie] his chain, I located a silver container attached to his chain. Johnson advised us there were more pills in the container. The chain was not given to [Melanie] and was placed in the evidence bag with the other narcotics.”

Johnson was transported to the Dudley Police Department by Officer Reney and Precision Auto towed the vehicle
from the scene a short time later.

“During the booking process, Johnson was read his Miranda rights. Johnson stated he did not want to talk,” Officer Pacheco said. “During the booking process, Johnson started to have conversations multiple times with Officer Reney and myself. Johnson made statements regarding the types of prescription pills, and who he had bought them from illegally.”

During the booking process, Officer Pacheco said the prescription pills recovered included 75 clonazepam pills of two different types, a Class C substance; six oxycodone pills, a Class B substance; and one gemfibrozil pill, a Class E substance.

Johnson’s bail was set at $200.

After he was booked, Johnson was transported to the Webster Police Department to await bail.

Johnson was arraigned in Dudley District Court on March 12, 2026. Following his arraignment, he was released on bail.

Johnson’s next court date is a pretrial hearing scheduled for May 22, 2026.

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

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