By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the intersection of Grand Union Boulevard and Mystic Avenue last week on reports of a male passed out behind the wheel in a stopped vehicle.

Upon arrival, the officers spoke with a Boston Fire Engine Company that was on routine patrol and was flagged down by concerned citizens. The Firefighters said it took them numerous attempts to wake up the driver.

As the officers revived the driver, later identified as Eladio Figueroa, of Charlestown, he reportedly told them that everything was OK, he was just intoxicated. The officers reported that they could detect the odor of alcohol and that Figueroa’s eyes were red and glossy.

According to reports, Figueroa was asked for his driver’s license and, after fumbling around in his pockets for awhile, eventually produced a pack of cigarettes which he offered to the officers.

One of the officers reportedly explained to the man that the pack of cigarettes was not his driver’s license, and Figueroa responded that the officers should look for the license themselves.

After searching for a while, the officers determined that they could not find his driver’s license. However, under his driver’s seat was a large steak knife. In plain view on the center console was a small bottle of cognac that appeared to be about half full. Also on the passenger side floorboard was an open case of beer with multiple bottles missing. An empty bottle of beer was also located on the back passenger side floor which, after further inspection, was found to still be cold, and the beer that was still inside the bottle was filled with bubbles. This led officers to believe that the beer had been consumed very recently.

The officers noticed that Figueroa had a small scrape under his right eye that was starting to swell. He was asked if he would like medical attention for his injury and he reportedly said that he had been in a fight and that he would like to get a gun and shoot the person he had been fighting with.

Figueroa was asked if he had a gun, and he reportedly replied, “Yup around here somewhere.” The officers searched inside the vehicle for a gun, but one was not found. Figueroa eventually told them, “There’s nothing in there, it’s in Charlestown”.

It was determined that Figueroa was unable to perform any field sobriety tests, and could not even successfully take a breathalyzer test, and was uncooperative and combative throughout the questioning process.

Figueroa was taken into custody and charged with open alcohol container in a motor vehicle and operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.