DOVER — A Wharton man was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing into two parked vehicles and attempting to flee the scene on Friday night, June 13.
According to Dover Police Officer German Libanzo, officers responded to Lehigh Street near Baker Avenue around 10:20 p.m. for a report of an intoxicated driver involved in a crash. Upon arrival, officers observed a silver 2003 Toyota Camry disabled in the roadway with vehicle parts scattered around. The driver, identified as Angelo J. Ricratineo, 39, of Wharton, was found at the scene.
Ricratineo told officers he had driven too closely to a parked vehicle, causing him to strike it. While attempting to leave the scene, he side-swiped another parked car before his vehicle became disabled.
Police observed several signs of intoxication, including bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and the odor of alcohol. Ricratineo admitted to drinking alcohol, first claiming to have had one beer, then three. He failed multiple field sobriety tests, at one point falling asleep during the exam. Officers later discovered several open and unopened cans of Modelo beer inside his vehicle.
Ricratineo was arrested and transported to Randolph Police Headquarters for breath testing, as Dover’s Alcotest machine was out of service. He provided two valid breath samples and registered a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.19%.
He was issued multiple summonses, including:
- Driving While Intoxicated (39:4-50)
- Reckless Driving (39:4-96)
- Failure to Maintain Lane (39:4-88)
- Careless Driving (39:4-97)
- Consumption of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle (39:4-51B)
Following processing at Dover Police Headquarters, Ricratineo was released into the custody of a family member.
The damaged vehicles, a 1999 Plymouth and a 2017 Subaru, were both unoccupied at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported.
Editor’s Note: The court’s rules require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
