By Jim Clark

While parked near the intersection of Kidder and Willow Ave. last week, police officers observed a vehicle speeding toward the intersection heading North on Willow.

The intersection is a four-way stop and is raised to slow traffic. This area is in a school zone and the posted speed limit is 20 mph.

The car reportedly bounced hard when it hit the raised intersection and then the car took off rapidly with the tires squealing loudly.

The officers activated their emergency lights and pursued the vehicle northbound. They observed the car turn right on Broadway without stopping at the stop light, then disappear after they turned the corner.

At the next intersection the officers observed two helpful citizens at the intersection of Broadway and Josephine Ave. frantically waving their arms, directing them to go down Josephine Ave., a one-way street.

The officers turned down Josephine Ave. and observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed ahead of them. It reportedly turned right on Kidder Ave. and came to stop almost exactly where the police cruiser was parked when they first observed the car run its first stop sign.

The driver, later identified as Peter McIlroy, of Medford, opened his car door as the officers approached and began to exit his car.

The officers told McIlroy to stay in the car, which he did, but he attempted to exit the car several times as they were talking.

The officers reported that they detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from the driver. They also reportedly also observed the driver’s eyes to be glassy and his speech slurred.

McIlroy was asked why he ran the stop sign and was driving so fast, to which he reportedly replied that he did not know he was driving fast.

McIlroy was asked to perform a field sobriety test, but he refused to cooperate so he was placed into custody.

While waiting for the prisoner transport wagon, McIlroy repeatedly asked the officers to put him in contact with his lawyer in several different ways.

Each time he asked, the officers explained that he would get his phone call after he was booked at the station, but he reportedly did not understand their responses or was unable to comprehend them. McIlroy also stated that the officers were harassing him and all he was doing was walking home.

McIlroy was taken in for booking on charges of failure to stop or yield, improper operation of a motor vehicle, operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor, and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.