DWI Suspect to Police: ‘I Ran For God Damn Congress!’

Unless otherwise noted, information about the following incidents was supplied by the Narragansett Police Department and files at Fourth Division District Court in Wakefield. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

Michael G. Riley, 56, of 444 Ocean Road, Narragansett, was arrested at about 2 a.m. Wednesday by Narragansett police and charged with drunken driving and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors, and cited for refusing to submit to a chemical test.

According to Narragansett Police Department reports, patrolman James M. Fitzgerald was monitoring traffic from the parking lot of Maridee Bait and Tackle.

Fitzgerald wrote that he saw a grey Lexus traveling south on Point Judith Road and drive as if it was going to turn into the lot for the shop, but then, the car quickly changed direction and instead went southbound in the northbound lane before turning on to Point Judith Road.

According to Fitzgerald’s report, the Lexus then went off the roadway and onto the grass by Brenton Point. Fitzgerald wrote that after a short distance, the Lexus got back on the road and went east on Old Point Judith Road, and then turned on to Kinney Avenue.

Fitzgerald wrote that the vehicle began drifting again, at which point a traffic stop was made in front of 42 Kinney Avenue.

According to Fitzgerald’s report, Riley was the sole occupant of the Lexus. Fitzgerald wrote that when he asked Riley for his license and registration, Riley made no attempt to retrieve them. Fitzgerald wrote that Riley smelled of alcohol, and also had bloodshot and watery eyes. He allegedly told Fitzgerald that he was trying to get home from Mariner Square.

Fitzgerald wrote that Riley did not provide him with a license at first, so instead the officer ran the plate of the Lexus to get his identity. Fitzgerald wrote that he radioed for a second unit to respond, and again asked Riley for his license, registration and insurance information.

According to Fitzgerald’s report, at this point Riley asked Fitzgerald for his name and badge number, which Fitzgerald said he provided.

Fitzgerald wrote that when he asked Riley how much he had had to drink that night, Riley became agitated, again asking for Fitzgerald’s name, and yelling that the officer had no right to pull him over.

According to Fitzgerald’s report, Riley then took out his cell phone and dialed 0, and held the phone up as if it was recording. Fitzgerald wrote that instead of recording their conversation, a standardized message began repeating.

Fitzgerald wrote that he again told Riley why he had been stopped, and noted that Riley attempted to write down the information, but he kept dropping a pen and paper, and eventually stopped trying.

According to Fitzgerald’s report, Riley accused Fitzgerald of pulling him over three previous times that night, which Fitzgerald denied. At this point, patrolman Brent J. Kuzman also arrived on scene.

Fitzgerald wrote that once Kuzman arrived, he asked Riley to step out of the Lexus. Riley allegedly replied, “You’re ****ed. You’re going to lose your job for this.”

According to Fitzgerald’s report, he told Riley that he suspected he was under the influence of alcohol. Riley allegedly responded that he had once ran for Congress and the officers had “****ed up.”

In Kuzman’s report, he wrote that Riley appeared unsteady and intoxicated, and refused to comply with instructions or requests. He also noted that Riley kept telling he and Fitzgerald that “you ****ed up.”

According to Fitzgerald’s report, he asked Riley multiple times to submit to field sobriety tests, which Riley refused multiple times. Based on Riley’s driving and behavior up to that point, Fitzgerald wrote, Riley was arrested and charged with drunken driving.

Fitzgerald wrote that instead of complying with the arrest, Riley attempted to walk away, and told officers he was walking home.

According to reports by Fitzgerald and Kuzman, as they attempted to arrest Riley, he resisted and began screaming, “I ran for god damn Congress, you’re ****ed!”

Fitzgerald and Kuzman both wrote in their reports that Riley continued to resist, and as a result, pepper spray was used by Kuzman in a one-second burst to subdue Riley.

According to Fitzgerald’s report, this allowed the officers to arrest Riley, with Riley screaming at them that they were again “****ed” and “****ing rookies.” Fitzgerald wrote that while on the ground, Riley screamed at them, “Obama was right!”

Fitzgerald wrote that once Riley was handcuffed, he began to cry, and asked police if they would “just let him walk home, he wouldn’t remember any of this anyway.”

According to Fitzgerald’s report, at this point Riley again refused to comply with officer instructions, and had to be carried by Fitzgerald and Kuzman to the backseat of a squad car. Fitzgerald wrote that they were able to find Riley’s wallet at this point, finally acquiring his license in the process.

Fitzgerald wrote that they were able to read Riley his rights at 2 a.m., when he was in the car, and took him to Narragansett Police Headquarters for booking at 2:06 a.m. At this point, Sgt. Eric J. Ryan also provided a narrative report.

According to Fitzgerald’s report, when they arrived at headquarters Riley again refused to cooperate. Fitzgerald wrote that he had to be carried from the police car and into the station.

Fitzgerald wrote that Riley was disoriented, and asked repeatedly where he was and what town he was in. Fitzgerald wrote that Riley was given access to water to wash out the pepper spray, and the booking process began at about 2:26 a.m.

According to Fitzgerald’s report, after confidential phone calls, Riley refused to submit to chemical breath tests at 2:34 a.m. Fitzgerald wrote that Riley also refused to answer any questions about how much he drank or when he was drinking.

According to court files at Fourth Division District Court in Wakefield, Riley was arraigned before a justice of the peace at Narragansett Police Headquarters at about 3:25 a.m. on April 3.

He was released on $1,000 personal recognizance after a hearing before JP Melissa Larsen. Based on paperwork filed by Larsen and Narragansett police Sgt. Eric Ryan, Riley refused to enter a plea or to sign any of his arraignment documents. According to Fitzgerald’s report, he was then released at about 3:30 a.m.

According to online records, Riley does not have any previous arrests. Being released on personal recognizance is customary for the charges Riley faced, given his lack of criminal history. Riley’s case number is 41-2013-00737.

Riley ran unsuccessfully in 2012 for the congressional seat won by James Langevin. Riley, the Republican nominee, lost by about 50,000 votes to Langevin – a margin of 55.7 percent to 35.1 percent, with independent candidate Abel Collins taking 9.1 percent of the vote.

Riley’s first appearance at Fourth Division District Court is currently scheduled for Tuesday, April 9. At that point, he will be arraigned before a Rhode Island District Court judge on charges of resisting arrest and drunken driving.