Lawnmower DWI suspect was apparently headed toward The Ridge

A beer appears to be still in its cupholder during last week's arrest on Little Falls Bridge Road. (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - The Rochester man arrested nearly a week ago for driving drunk on a riding lawnmower was headed toward The Ridge shopping area when he was pulled over on Little Falls Bridge Road.

Earlier reports indicated he was in the area of Country Lane, which is opposite Little Falls Bridge Road, but Rochester Police Capt. Jason Thomas confirmed today that the suspect, Lawrence P. Ouellette, 63, of 11 Trade Wind Lane, Apt. #2, was on the driving portion of Little Falls Bridge Road and headed toward Route 11.

The incident unfolded around 10:30 p.m. on Friday when police learned that a male, possibly intoxicated, was riding his lawn mower through people's lawns. The caller said the man was in the area of Stony Brook Coop on Chestnut Hill Road and they believed he was headed north toward Country Lane.

When officers arrived they found the suspect on a Murray lawn mower with no plates.

After a field sobriety test, Ouellette was charged with DWI, driving after revocation/suspension, second offense; and open container.

Thomas said Ouellette refused to submit to a Breathalyzer test.

Thomas further explained that while police arrested Ouellette for driving drunk on a public way, law enforcement could also have arrested him even if he were on private property, citing law that both reckless driving and DWI are arrestable offenses on private property.

Of course, Thomas added, Ouellette's DWI arrest on his own private property would have been highly unlikely.

Ouellette was booked and bailed pending a later arraignment on the charges.