Westport man arrested for OUI after vehicle rolls away

A Westport man is facing multiple charges after letting his car roll away Saturday after being stopped by police.

According to Detective Robert Rebello, at approximately 6:05 p.m., Officer Jeremey Dellecese observed a brown GMC Canyon traveling west in the area of 1185 American Legion Highway in Westport. Officer Dellecese’s attention was drawn to the vehicle as it passed him straddling the fog line. Rebello stated that the vehicle’s passenger side tires were over the fog line and narrowly left the edge of the roadway. The vehicle then swerved back into the lane of travel. At this time Officer Dellecese activated his emergency lights in an attempt to stop the vehicle. The vehicle traveled for an additional 500 feet before rolling to a stop just west of Forge Road.

Officer Dellecese approached the vehicle and identified the male operator as 50-year-old Leroy Mogardo of American Legion Highway. Officer Dellecese had responded to Mogardo’s home earlier in the evening for a disturbance between Mogardo and another individual. While approaching the vehicle, Officer Dellecese observed Mogardo reach back behind the passenger seat. It was later determined that Mogardo was attempting to conceal a bottle of Bud Light. This was the same type of beer Mogardo was seen drinking when Officer Dellecese had spoken with him in his living room earlier, according to Rebello.

When Mogardo was asked to step out of his vehicle, he failed to put the vehicle in park and it began to roll away. Officer Dellecese instructed Mogardo to place the vehicle in park. Upon questioning, Mogardo had denied consuming any alcohol in his vehicle and further denied drinking any alcohol that day. Officer Dellecese noted in his report that he could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from Mogardo and his eyes were bloodshot and glassy. Field sobriety testing administered on Mogardo determined that he was under the influence of liquor. Mogardo was then placed under arrest and transported to the Westport Police Station for booking.

As a result of Officer Dellecese’s investigation, Mogardo was charged with Operation of a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor (3rd Offense), Marked Lanes, and Open Container of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle.