Rehoboth repeat offender arrested on OUI, other charges, after crash

Police arrested a local man Tuesday as a repeat OUI offender.

According to Rehoboth Sgt. James Casey, at approximately 7:08 p.m., Ptlm. Arthur Beaudoin and Ptlm. Gilbert Lima responded to 51 Allens Lane for a report of a vehicle that struck a utility pole and fled the area.

The vehicle was reported as traveling north on Allens Lane. When Ptlm. Beaudoin and Ptlm. Lima arrived it was determined that a white pickup truck had struck the pole.

Ptlm. Beaudoin and Ptlm. Lima checked the area and located a white Ford Ranger parked in the driveway of 28 Allens Lane. Ptlm. Beaudoin noticed that the vehicle had sustained damage consistent with striking a utility pole. Ptlm. Beaudoin spoke with Joseph Vassalotti who admitted to striking the utility pole, but said, “I thought I hit a stump”. As Ptlm. Beaudoin spoke with Vassalotti, Ptlm. Beaudoin noticed that Vassalotti showed signs and symptoms of being intoxicated due to the consumption of alcohol.

Following a road side investigation which included field sobriety testing, Vassalotti was taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the station where he was booked. During booking it was learned that this was Vassalotti’s third operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol offense.

Vassalotti was held on $1040.00 cash bail.

Vassalotti was due to appear in Taunton District Court Wednesday, at 8:30 a.m. to be arraigned on the charges of OUI Liquor; 3rd Offense, Leaving the scene of property damage and Negligent operation of a motor vehicle.