By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the corner of Beacon St. and Somerville Ave. last week on reports of a driver asleep in a motor vehicle at a stoplight.

Upon arrival, officers located the vehicle in question and found a man, later identified as Benjamin Warren, of Arlington, sleeping behind the wheel.

The officers positioned their cruisers behind the motor vehicle for scene safety, then immediately ran over to Warren, who was sound asleep at the wheel, according to reports.

The vehicle was still in drive and Warren’s foot was reportedly still on the brake. An officer reached over Warren and placed the vehicle in park and then took the key out of the ignition.

After placing the vehicle in park, an officer gave Warren several sternum rubs as other officers shouted, “Sir, please wake up!” After several attempts, Warren finally woke up, but seemed confused, police said.

An officer asked Warren for his driver’s license, but was given a work identification card. The officer clarified that he wanted Warren’s driver’s license and not a work identification card. Warren then reportedly gave the officer his purse, which was open with his driver’s license in plain view.

Warren was then asked to step out of the vehicle so that EMT workers could examine him. As he was getting out of the vehicle, Warren reportedly complained that he just wanted to go home, and asked why he was pulled over for no reason.

The officers reportedly detected the odor of liquor and burned marijuana on Warren’s person.

After failing a series of field sobriety tests, Warren was placed under arrest and charged with operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor.