By Jim Clark

Police received several calls last Saturday evening reporting reckless and erratic driving by someone operating a black Cadillac in the West Somerville area.

One alleged report stated that the vehicle had struck the reporting party’s car and left the scene. Another caller said that an empty vodka bottle had been thrown from the car as it careened down Broadway.

Police caught up with the driver in question and pulled the vehicle over into the parking lot behind Sligo Pub on Elm St.

Police noted that the car’s front driver’s side wheel had lost its tire that the vehicle had been riding on its rim, which appeared to have been ground down from prolonged contact with the road.

Police questioned the driver, Matthew Powers, 29, who appeared to be intoxicated, according to their report.

When asked if he was aware that he had been driving on a bare rim he reportedly replied, “Ya, so what?”

When asked if he had been drinking he said that he had one beer that evening, police said.

After reportedly failing a series of field sobriety tests, Powers was judged to be intoxicated while driving and placed under arrest.

After being handcuffed, Powers reportedly began shouting and directing profanities at officers. While being placed into the police transport vehicle he struggled with officers and shouted, “Now I am resisting,” according to reports.

Powers has been charged with disorderly conduct, operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor, and resisting arrest.