BLACKSTONE — On Thursday, March 26, 2026, at approximately 4:30 a.m., Officer Corey Giguere of the Blackstone Police Department responded to 6 Ascension Street following a report of a vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway, occupied by one person.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Statement of Facts of Officer Corey Giguere and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“Officer [Nicholas] Green arrived on scene and observed a 2020 Hyundai Tucson in the middle of both travel lanes at a complete stop, brake lights illuminated,” Officer Giguere said, adding that the vehicle had Arizona plates.
Officer Giguere said that once Officer Green approached the vehicle, he observed the operator, later identified as Jessica Watkins, who appeared to be passed out, slumped over the wheel.
According to police, Jessica M. Watkins, 39, is a resident of Franklin, MA.
“The vehicle was running and still engaged in drive at this time. Officer Green shined his flashlight into the vehicle and knocked on the glass several times before Jessica came to,” Officer Giguere said. “Officer Green asked Jessica what she was doing and she stated that she was waiting for a friend. Jessica was asked where her friend lived and she advised that she did not know.”
Officer Giguere said that when he arrived on scene, he began speaking with Jessica, but she was unable to speak in full sentences or make sense of her words.
“I asked Jessica for her driver’s license, which she was unable to locate, along with the registration of the vehicle,” Officer Giguere said. “I then asked Jessica for her name and date of birth, which she was able to provide me. I then asked her where she was from, but Jessica was unable to remember where she was from, or where she was at this time. She advised she was picking up a friend, but did not know the friend’s name or address. Also, there was no address in her phone GPS.”
Officer Giguere said he then asked Watkins to step out of the vehicle so he could speak with her further.
“I told Jessica that I needed to confirm she was able to be operating a vehicle,” Officer Giguere said. “When Jessica stepped out, she was unsteady on her feet, swaying from side to side, and very confused about what was going on. I then advised Jessica to close her eyes, tilt her head back, and count to 30 in her head.”
Officer Giguere said he advised her to open her eyes and return her head to a neutral position once she believed 30 seconds had passed.
“Jessica counted to only 12 seconds when she advised me that she was done,” Officer Giguere said. “This Romberg test was conducted, due to the fact that I am certified in ‘ARIDE,’ Advanced Roadside Impairment Detection Enforcement.”
Officer Giguere said he then advised Watkins to close her eyes again, extend both of her arms out to the side with her pointer fingers extended, and touch her nose first with her left finger, then with her right.
“She was able to touch her nose with both fingers,” Officer Giguere said. “At this time, I observed what appeared to be needle marks on her hand, commonly referred to as ‘track marks,’ which is common and consistent with the use of injecting narcotics.”
Officer Giguere then asked Watkins when those track marks were from.
“Jessica advised me they were from years ago and that she does not ‘use’ anymore,” Officer Giguere said. “Due to my prior training and experience, which includes Narcotics Task Force specialized duties, I determined the needle marks were recent, along with the blood stain on her blue jeans.”
Officer Giguere said that, at around this time, he formed the opinion that Watkins was unable to safely drive the vehicle from the scene. He asked Watkins if she had anyone who could come pick her up and the vehicle and she said that she didn’t.
“Jessica was secured in the back of my cruiser, for safekeeping, due to the cold weather and standing by for her Uber to arrive,” Officer Giguere said, adding that he then requested a tow respond to his location.
“Per departmental policy, an inventory search was conducted,” Officer Giguere said. “During the inventory, I observed the end of a needle poking out of her purse, which was sitting on the passenger seat.”
Officer Giguere said he searched the purse further and found multiple crack pipes with drug residue on them, along with paraphernalia commonly used to inject narcotics, including cotton balls, Brillo, torches, and a digital scale.
“The digital scale had white residue all over it, which tested positive for cocaine, utilizing a NARK Cocaine ID Swipe,” Officer Giguere said. Adding, “Jessica also had a plastic case which held a substantial amount of drug paraphernalia. Also in her purse, in a small pocket, was 0.76 grams of suspected crack cocaine. Upon further search of the vehicle, I found another 0.56 grams of the same white rock-like substance. There was a total of 1.32 grams.”
Following his search, Officer Giguere returned to his cruiser to speak with Watkins.
“I requested that Jessica step out of the cruiser and to turn around and place her hands behind her back,” Officer Giguere said. “I stated to Jessica that she is under arrest for the possession of a Class B substance as well as operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of narcotics.”
Watkins was handcuffed and placed in the rear of a cruiser.
“Interstate Towing arrived on scene moments later and took possession of the vehicle,” Officer Giguere said.
Officer Giguere said he requested that the Blackstone Dispatch Center locate a female officer to search Watkins once she was brought to the Blackstone Police Department for booking, as well as a drug recognition expert to evaluate her.
“A female officer from the Bellingham Police Department was able to respond and conduct the search of Jessica’s person, where two more crack pipes were found on her person,” Officer Giguere said. “Once the search was complete, the booking process continued, where Officer Green gave Jessica her Miranda rights.”
Jessica Watkins, 39, of Franklin, was charged with the following:
- OUI-Drugs
- Possess Class B Drug
Watkins was arraigned in Uxbridge District Court on March 26, 2026. Following her arraignment, Watkins was released under the condition that she remain free of drugs and recreational marijuana.
On April 6, 2026, probation filed a pretrial probation violation and the court issued a non-bailable warrant for Watkins’ arrest.
On April 7, 2026, Watkins appeared at court and the warrant was recalled. On that day, the judge rejected the Commonwealth’s motion to revoke bail and ordered her to enter into a recovery house in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and she was also ordered to submit to drug testing one day a week.
On April 17, 2026, a notice of alleged violations of Watkins’ pretrial conditions of release was filed by probation and a non-bailable warrant was issued by the court for Watkins’ arrest that day.
On April 28, 2026, Attorney Gonzalez, who appears from the docket to be Watkins’ attorney, filed a motion for OUI-related discovery, while the Commonwealth filed a motion to revoke bail because Watkins was not present in court. In addition, the warrant issued on April 17 was ordered to stand, and no action was taken on the motion to revoke bail that day.
Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux notes that about 80% of inmates in jail or prison have substance abuse and/or mental health issues. “This case is an all-too-common example of how our communities still struggle with substance abuse issues and when not treated, it compounds into other issues,” Sheriff Heroux said. Adding, “All defendants should be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
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.
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
