State sen. nabbed for drunken driving
A politician pulled over for allegedly drunken driving early Saturday told an officer he’s a state senator and refused to take a Breathalyzer after failing multiple field sobriety tests, Weymouth police said.
Michael D. Brady (D-Brockton) was stopped while driving a Chevrolet Sonic shortly before 2:30 a.m. after another motorist was so concerned about Brady’s car swerving that he briefly followed him before calling 911.
According to a Weymouth police report, the officer who pulled Brady over said he had “bloodshot glassy eyes, slurred speech and there was a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his vehicle.”
Brady, 55, told the officer he was at a “work event” in Boston and admitted to drinking. He said he was on his way home to Brockton, police said. Shortly after the officer told Brady he would be testing his sobriety, “Brady handed ... a Commonwealth of Massachusetts identification card and stated he was a State Senator,” police said.
Brady then failed a series of field sobriety tests including counting backwards from 60 to 40, saying the alphabet and failing to remain steady while standing on one leg, cops said.
Brady was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and refused a chemical breath test while being booked in jail, police said. According to his state driving record, since 1983, Brady has six sur chargable accidents, six speeding violations and two instances where he was caught not wearing a seatbelt.
Karl Ulett, 54, of Plymouth, who called 911 to report Brady’s driving, was shocked when told a state senator was the erratic driver. Ulett, an Uber driver, said he first spotted the car in Braintree, pulled over so Brady could get ahead of him, then followed him and took down his license plate number.
“Everybody goes out and sometimes has a drink or two,” Ulett said. “It doesn’t matter if it was Jesus, or whatever. I would do the same thing for anybody. It was for safety, for the safety of himself, and those traveling on the highway. I felt it was my duty, and that’s why I did what I did.”
Brady was charged with driving under the influence of liquor, negligent driving and marked lane violations. He was arraigned Monday at Quincy District Court and released on his own recognizance, according to Norfolk County prosecutors.
“While driving home, I was stopped early in the morning ... by the Weymouth Police on Rt. 18 in South Weymouth and placed under arrest,” Brady said in a statement. “I was released later in the morning. I want to apologize to the Weymouth Police, my constituents, my friends and colleagues in the Legislature for any embarrassment and distraction that this incident causes. I know that as a Senator, I am held to a higher standard, and I will abide by the advice of my counsel as this matter is adjudicated by our judiciary.”