by Timothy Page

On March 31 around 1:43AM, a BPD officer observed a black Mercedes travelling northbound on Battery Street. The vehicle failed to stop at a flashing red light, continued at a high rate of speed, failed to stop at another flashing red light, and almost hit the curb. The officer conducted a motor-vehicle stop on North Avenue by the BPD’s headquarters.

Officers identified the driver as Donald Pelletier III, 35, of Burlington. As officers conducted field sobriety tests, Pelletier allegedly stated “I’m not that drunk: I failed to stop at the light and stop sign and seen when he got behind me because his lights were hard not see him. You got me… I tried to tell you that you got me. Cite me, give me my ticket.” Pelletier allegedly stated “My wife will come pick my car up, I will walk home, and give me a ticket and all that but this is wasting your time.”

Officers arrested Pelletier for DUI and sent him to the Winooski Police Department for processing. Pelletier’s wife arrived at the scene of the motor-vehicle stop and police released the Mercedes to her at 2:22AM.

Pelletier was found to have a blood-alcohol content approximately twice the legal limit. He was cited, released, and driven back to Burlington.

At approximately 3:55AM, Pelletier returned to the scene of the motor-vehicle stop, again driving the Mercedes, apparently in order to retrieve his wife’s vehicle. Officers observed this and Pelletier fled south on North Avenue. Officers did not pursue but issued a “Be On Lookout” to neighboring agencies.

Information in this article sourced from BPD press release.