Pawtucket man accused of lying to police
WOONSOCKET – Police arrested a man Sunday after he allegedly called 911 several times and told dispatchers inaccurate information about why he was calling.
Darrell Martin, 46, of Pawtucket, first called around 6:30 p.m. to report a stabbing. Officer Jason Berthelette responded and found him “standing, conscious, alert and responsive,” according to his report. Berthelette also noted Martin’s face was bleeding.
Martin told Berthelette he had been drinking at a friend’s house and got into an argument with someone there. The argument turned physical, and Martin took a punch to the face. Martin then said he “wrestled” a knife out of the person’s hands, and the suspect fled when Martin said he would call the police, according to Berthelette’s report.
Martin confirmed that he had not been stabbed because he had wrestled the knife away, and said he had been “punched in the [expletive] face and that was the same thing,” according to Berthelette’s report. Berthelette asked if he wanted to file a complaint, and began asking for additional information about the suspect who allegedly threatened Martin’s life with a knife.
In the meantime, Woonsocket Rescue personnel responded to the scene to evaluate Martin’s injuries, which caused Martin to become belligerent, according to Berthelette’s report. He refused to answer questions for either Berthelette’s witness statement or for rescue personnel, and walked away from the scene, even after Berthelette informed him that getting medical clearance, photos and a written statement were part of the process to file a complaint, according to Berthelette’s report.
About 30 minutes later, Martin called 911 four additional times. Dispatchers receiving his calls said he sounded “upset, uncooperative and belligerent,” according to Berthelette’s report. He refused to give his location, and vented about how Berthelette handled his first call. Dispatch used a GPS system to locate Martin, and he was taken into custody for misusing the 911 system, according to Berthelette’s report.
Martin is being charged in District Court with one count of providing false information to 911, a misdemeanor. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Monday morning, and is next expected in court in two weeks.