LEOMINSTER — On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Officer Braden Carlson of the Leominster Police Department was dispatched to Mai Tai’s at 638 North Main Street following reports of a motor vehicle accident.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Braden Carlson and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“The accident was called in by Detective [Oswaldo] Ramos who was on scene for a detail,” Officer Carlson said.
Detective Ramos said the operator of one of the vehicles got out and ran down Moore Street. Officer Mackenson Adescar was then dispatched to the scene.
“Upon my arrival, I immediately began searching the area of Moore Street,” Officer Carlson said. “Dispatch then advised that the plate was cancelled and belonged on a different vehicle.”
Officer Carlson said the vehicle that crashed was a Volkswagen Golf, but the license plate attached to it came back to a pickup truck.
“While trying to locate the operator, Detective Ramos radioed that they believed the operator had come back and was across the street,” Officer Carlson said.
Officer Carlson said that when he arrived back on scene, he saw a man standing with Detective Ramos and Detective Michael Kochanski.
“The male was swaying as he stood and was continuously using the building to balance himself,” Officer Carlson said. “It was immediately apparent that he was unsteady on his feet. I was later able to identify him as Miguel Fontanez Jr.”
According to police, Miguel A. Fontanez Jr., 38, is a resident of Leominster, MA.
“Officer Adescar then detained Miguel and placed him in handcuffs,” Officer Carlson said. “While placing him in handcuffs, we noticed he had a large cut that was bleeding on his left wrist. We immediately radioed for an ambulance. He then informed us that he hit his head in the accident.”
Officer Carlson said he then checked the cuffs for proper fit and tightness before telling Fontanez to take a seat, which he did.
While speaking with Fontanez, Officer Carlson said he could smell a very strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath.
“I then used my flashlight and observed his eyes to be extremely glossy. We asked Miguel what happened and he began to be very passive aggressive towards us,” Officer Carlson said. “Miguel then stated to us, ‘I took my girlfriend’s car.’ He then says, ‘I was here, I caused that,’ and made a gesturing motion with his head towards the direction of the accident. Miguel was slurring his words heavily making some of what he said incoherent.”
Officer Carlson said he asked Fontanez if he had anything to drink that night, and Fontanez told him no.
“I then told Miguel that I believed he was intoxicated,” Officer Carlson said.
Officer Carlson said he then asked Fontanez if he would be willing to take a portable breath test (PBT) and he refused.
“At this time, I informed Miguel that he was being placed under arrest for OUI Alcohol,” Officer Carlson said. “I then attempted to read Miguel his Miranda rights off a card I carry in my pocket. He immediately became confrontational and would not let me read them. Officer Adescar radioed Miguel’s license information and dispatch informed us his license is currently revoked.”
Shortly afterward, the ambulance arrived to transport Fontanez to the hospital.
“When asked what was wrong, he stated, ‘I don’t see straight,’” Officer Carlson said. “He was then asked by the EMT, ‘Are you injured from this accident?’ to which he replied, ‘Yeah.’ The EMT then asked if he was wearing his seatbelt, to which Miguel replied ‘On a motorcycle? There’s no seatbelt.’ Miguel was driving a car, not a motorcycle.”
Officer Carlson said that, due to Fontanez’s aggressive behavior, he decided to ride in the ambulance with Fontanez to the hospital.
“While in the ambulance, Miguel continued to be passive aggressive towards myself and Leominster fire personnel,” Officer Carlson said. “At one point, the EMT said to Miguel, ‘Well, you are hammered?’ Miguel then responded, ‘Yeah, right.’ I tried to read Miguel his Miranda rights. When asked if he understood these rights, he replied, ‘D’.”
Officer Carlson said that while they were at the hospital, Fontanez again refused to take a PBT.
Officer Carlson then issued Fontanez two uniform citations, provided him with copies that were placed with his belongings, and informed him of the charges against him.
“I was then relieved from the hospital,” Officer Carlson said. “Later at the Leominster Police Department, during booking, Miguel also refused the breath test.”
Later, Officer Carlson said Detective Kochanski described the accident to him in greater detail.
“Miguel had been allegedly speeding down North Main Street. The occupants of the vehicle he struck estimated his speed to be around 50-60 mph,” Officer Carlson recounted, adding that the area of North Main Street where the crash occurred is a 35-mph zone.
“Miguel’s vehicle struck a work truck that was pulling into the roadway,” Officer Carlson said. “He then ran off the road to the right, jumping a curb and striking a fire hydrant. The speed of the collision with the hydrant was enough to pull the hydrant out of the ground.”
After Fontanez was released from the hospital, he was transported to the Leominster Police Department for booking.
Miguel A. Fontanez Jr., 38, of Leominster was charged with the following violations/offenses:
- OUI – Liquor or .08%
- Operate Motor Vehicle with License Revoked as HTO (Habitual Traffic Offender)
- Number Plate Violation to Conceal ID
- Leave Scene of Property Damage
- Marked Lanes Violation
Officer Carlson said Fontanez had four prior guilty findings for operating a motor vehicle after his license had been revoked.
Fontanez was arraigned in Leominster District Court on April 29, 2026. Following his arraignment, he was released on $500 cash bail. His next court date is a pretrial hearing scheduled for May 27, 2026.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in April, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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