A 64-year-old Portsmouth man with a history of fatal drunk driving was arrested Monday after crashing his vehicle while driving with a blood alcohol content more than three times the legal limit, according to Portsmouth Police.
Stephen M. Reise of Donna Drive was taken into custody following a motor vehicle accident on June 23, marking the sixth DUI-related arrest made by Portsmouth Police in just five days as part of an intensified enforcement effort.
The incident began around 3:29 p.m. when officers were dispatched to West Main Road near Redwood Drive for reports of a vehicle driving on a flat tire. Minutes later, at 3:33 p.m., police were called to a crash on Donna Drive and discovered it involved the same vehicle from the earlier call.
When officers encountered Reise, they observed classic signs of impairment including red and glassy eyes, slurred speech, and the smell of alcohol. Reise admitted to consuming alcohol earlier in the day, police said. After failing field sobriety tests, he was arrested and transported to headquarters.
Chemical breath tests revealed Reise’s blood alcohol content measured .269% and .264% — well above the .08% legal limit and significantly higher than the .15% threshold for enhanced penalties under Rhode Island law.
The arrest carries particular weight given Reise’s criminal history. Court records show he previously pleaded no contest in 2000 to DUI charges resulting in death, stemming from an October 29, 1999, crash.
Reise faces multiple charges, including DUI with a BAC of .15 or greater, refusal to submit to a preliminary breath test, possession of an alcoholic beverage while operating a vehicle, and operation with metal tires prohibited. He was arraigned by a Justice of the Peace and released on $10,000 surety bail with conditions that prohibit him from operating any vehicle until further court order.
Part of Broader Enforcement Push
The arrest represents one of six DUI cases processed by Portsmouth Police since June 19 as part of a proactive enforcement initiative conducted in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation Office on Highway Safety.
The other recent arrests include:
- June 19: Joshua Poore, 32, of Middletown, charged with DUI (.10-.15 BAC)
- June 21: William Fecteau, 20, of Seekonk, Massachusetts, charged with DUI (.10-.15 BAC)
- June 21: Derek Mendes, 31, of Brockton, Massachusetts, charged with DUI and second-offense refusal to submit to chemical testing
- June 21: Christopher Potter, 57, of Tiverton, charged with DUI, disorderly conduct, and second-offense refusal to submit to chemical testing
- June 22: Kristen Dyer, 42, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, charged with DUI and refusal to submit to chemical testing
Portsmouth Police emphasized their commitment to removing impaired drivers from local roads, noting that the series of arrests “underscores the importance of our ongoing DUI enforcement efforts in keeping the Portsmouth community safe.”
