"He Almost Killed Us": Salem Man Arrested With Long OUI History

SALEM, MA – Police arrested Peter Anketell, 55, of Salem, for his 11th drunk driving offense on Tuesday night. Officers received a call about a car stolen from Lafayette Street, but quickly determined that the car wasn't stolen.

The Salem Police log noted that it was his 11th OUI, but other reports said it was his 12th.

One of the officers recognized Anketell's name when he was originally reported to have stolen the car, according to the police log. Shortly after police determined the car wasn't stolen, a woman ran to officers on Derby Street, yelling that "the guy's drunk, he almost killed us," and pointing to a blue car parked in a gas station parking lot.

Sgt. Harry Rocheville approached the car and noticed fresh damage, and recognized the license plate number as the car that was originally reported stolen. The same woman who pointed out the car yelled that the driver was by Flatbread Pizza.

Police arrested Anketell on charges of driving with a suspended license for drunken driving, drunken driving, and possession of Lorazepam. Officers determined that Anketell had been arrested on charges of 10 previous drunken driving incidents: Nine in Massachusetts, one in New Hampshire, and one in Florida, according to the Salem Police Log.

Rocheville was assisted by Officers Edward Vaillancourt, Daniel Tucker, and Robert Monk, according to the log.

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