By Lisa Redmond
Lowell Sun
AYER, Mass. — A former Shirley police officer, who resigned in 2008 after 14 years on the force, is facing a second drunken-driving charge after he was arrested in Ayer last week.
Steven Clark, 56, of 77 Holden Road, Shirley, pleaded innocent in Ayer District Court last week to operating under the influence of alcohol (second offense). He was convicted of the same offense in 2008.
Judge Michael Brooks released Clark on personal recognizance with the conditions that he not drink alcohol, submit to random screenings and not drive unless he has a valid license. The state Registry of Motor Vehicles has revoked his driver’s license for 180 days.
When reached for comment, Clark, a former police prosecutor, told The Sun: “I’m taking a not-guilty stand. It was an improper stop. I’m confident I’ll be proven innocent.”
Clark was a 14-year veteran of the Shirley Police Department until he resigned in March 2008 for undisclosed personal reasons.
Ayer police say in court documents that at 10:26 a.m. on Jan. 20, a motorist flagged down a police officer on Main Street complaining of an erratic driver who was “all over the road” and hitting snow banks. Clark, the driver of a maroon Honda Ridgeline truck, had driven to the Sovereign Bank ATM.
When a police officer approached and asked Clark if he was diabetic, he responded with slurred speech saying he was not, police say. Asked if Clark had consumed any alcohol, Clark allegedly admitted, “I had a couple, no big deal.’'
Clark told The Sun he had a couple beers the night before. He is on medication for depression, which probably didn’t mix well with the alcohol, he said.
When Clark was asked to blow into a portable Breathalyzer, he allegedly told police: “Come on, man. Any consideration, please? You know who I am.”
After fumbling several times with the Breathalyzer’s mouthpiece, Clark blew into the machine, police said. He registered a .285, nearly four times the legal limit of .08, according to court documents.
Police tried to get Clark to perform field-sobriety tests, but he couldn’t perform the balance tests, police said. Clark told The Sun he has an injured left foot and suffers from vertigo, which impacts his balance.
A pretrial conference is scheduled for Feb. 23.
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