Shared from the 3/18/2020 The Providence Journal eEdition

Newport parade marshal is charged with DUI

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Ryan

MIDDLETOWN — A Portsmouth man who was named one of the grand marshals of the Newport St. Patrick’s Day Parade this year — before it was canceled — was arrested Saturday night.

Brent Donald Ryan, 44, was charged by Middletown police with driving under the influence. He was also cited with refusal to submit to a chemical test.

Middletown Patrol Officer Jennifer Dellefratte said she was at a traffic light at the intersection of East Main Road and Aquidneck Avenue around 9:05 p.m. when she saw a white BMW enter the intersection as the light turned red, according to her police report. She followed the vehicle and observed “several laned roadway violations,” according to the report.

Dellefratte initiated a motor vehicle stop in the area of Boulevard Nurseries.

“I noticed that the music was very loud and I could see the operator attempting to bring the window down to speak with me. For about 30 seconds, the operator was unable to bring the window down,” Dellefratte wrote in her report.

She opened the car door and smelled “a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage” and “noticed that [Ryan’s] speech was slurred ... his eyes severely bloodshot.”

Ryan, who is the president and co-founder of Newport Craft, said he was driving from downtown Newport, according to Dellefratte’s report. She also noted he had a St. Patrick’s Day sash that said Grand Marshal 2020.

Ryan failed sobriety tests and he was ordered to appear in court on March 20. ldamon@newportri.com.

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