Somerset Police arrest 41-year-old on firearm, OUI charges after incident on Route 6, Wilbur Avenue

Somerset Police Chief William Tedford has announced the arrest of a 41-year-old man following a motor vehicle stop and roadside investigation for impaired driving.

At just after 6:15 a.m. Saturday morning, a driver contacted the Somerset Police Dispatch to report they were travelling on Wilbur Avenue behind a red Acura which they stated was “all over the road”. The reporting party stayed on the line with Dispatcher Darcy Giardini and provided the Acura’s license plate as well as updates on landmarks they were passing so that police officers could be dispatched to look for the vehicle.

As the caller continued speaking with the dispatcher, he stated the Acura had driven in the wrong lane and had almost struck another vehicle. The Acura, followed by the caller, eventually made its way onto G.A.R. Highway (Route 6) and was heading west when a Somerset officer was able to locate and stop the vehicle.

The Acura had come to a stop for the red traffic signal located at the intersection of G.A.R. Highway and Lees River Avenue when Somerset Police Officer Stephens Lima pulled behind it and the reporting party. Officer Lima noted that the Acura remained stopped for a long period of time even when the traffic signal turned green.

Seeing this, Officer Lima activated his cruiser lights in order to stop the vehicle. After the vehicle pulled to the side of the road, almost striking the curb, Officer Lima approached and spoke with the driver of the Acura, identified as Stevenson DeSauguste of North Reading.

Officer Lima made observations that led him to believe that DeSauguste was under the influence of alcohol and had been smoking marijuana shortly before being stopped. When asked to exit the vehicle and perform a series of field sobriety tests, DeSauguste agreed and stepped from the vehicle. Officer Lima, now assisted by Officers Christopher Rodrigues and Lance Rhodes, continued his investigation and ultimately placed DeSauguste under arrest for Operating Under the Influence of Liquor.

Once Officer Lima began to transport DeSauguste to the police station, officers remained on scene with the Acura while waiting for a tow truck to arrive. When a vehicle is being impounded by the Somerset Police Department following an arrest, officers are required by department policy to conduct an inspection of the vehicle and to inventory personal property and belongings left inside the vehicle. Officer Rodrigues was conducting an inventory of the vehicle when he noticed a folded white t-shirt on the floor immediately behind the driver’s seat. When he opened the t-shirt, he discovered a loaded .380ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol concealed within the layers. Officer Rodrigues secured the handgun for evidence and notified Officer Lima who was booking the prisoner. The inventory check of the Acura was completed and the vehicle was removed from the scene by the on-call tow service.

Following the booking process at the Somerset Police Department, DeSauguste was transported to the Bristol County Sheriff’s Department Regional Lockup located at Ash Street in New Bedford where he will be held without bail until his arraignment at the Fall River District Court on Monday.

Stevenson Desauguste will be charged with Operating Under the Influence of Liquor, Carrying a Loaded Firearm Without a License, Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card, and other traffic offenses.

The Somerset Police Department commended the caller for their tremendous efforts in assisting the police officers with getting this dangerous situation resolved without injury to the public. Chief Tedford also recognized the fantastic work by the officers involved during the arrest and subsequent seizure of the firearm. He described the incident as a great example of teamwork by all involved.