Crime
Massachusetts State Police makes an arrest after 43-foot boat run aground
A Massachusetts man has been arrested after a boating situation that could have ended much worse.
According to Massachusetts State Police, Friday evening at just before 9:45 p.m., Trooper Zachary Bolcome of the State Police-Oak Bluffs Barracks was notified by Dukes County dispatch of a large boat which had run aground on Chappaquiddick Island. Trooper Bolcombe made his way to the beach and located the stranded vessel, a 43-foot Hinckley Sport Boat 40C.
Trooper Bolcome approached the boat and with Edgartown officers saw two men who were on the boat when it crashed. Trooper Bolcome asked the men what happened. The men explained that a navigational error was made.
Trooper Bolcome spoke to the operator of the boat at the time of the crash, 32-year-old Riley Blizard of Cotuit, and immediately recognized signs of impairment in Blizard. Trooper Bolcome escorted Blizard and his passenger to Chappaquiddick Road and administered Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) to Blizard.
Based on the results of the SFSTs, Blizard was placed under arrest and transported to Dukes County Jail for booking. Blizard was scheduled to be arraigned at Edgartown District Court on the charges of Operating A Boat Under The Influence Of Liquor and Negligent Operation Of A Boat.
James MacLeod
June 6, 2024 at 8:04 am
Sadly, another case of reckless endangerment on the high seas especially at night……..upon a conviction boat should be seized by authorities and converted for patrol or auctioned off with proceeds going to a drunk driving cause. Set a strong example to others !
JB
June 6, 2024 at 1:22 pm
Forfeiture laws should not be encouraged except in extreme cases because they give incentives to PD’s to “bend” the laws. At least you said upon conviction because some forfeiture laws don’t even need a conviction.