Crime & Safety

Fallen Shoe Leads to Motorcyclist's DUI Arrest

A motorcyclist who fell at the intersection of the Post Road waved off a police officer who asked if he needed help.

But when he rode off without a shoe, the officer decided something was afoot, and the man was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Darien police gave this account of the incident:

At about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Peter Flaherty, 44, of Rowayton was struggling to upright his 2012 Ducati Hypermotard motorcycle in the westbound lane of the Post Road at its intersection with Interstate 95 eastbound ramp.

The officer pulled her patrol car behind Flaherty and asked him if he needed help. Flaherty said he was OK and began to drive off ...

... Until the officer noted that Flaherty was leaving without one of his shoes.

She pulled him over, and when she spoke with him she noticed his speech was slurred and there was an odor of alcohol on his breath. Flaherty failed his field sobriety tests

Flaherty's blood-alcohol level, at 0.19, was more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

Flaherty, of Rowayton Avenue, was charged with driving while under the influence.

He later was released on a $250 bond and is to appear Aug. 8 in state Superior Court in Stamford.


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