HN VIDEO: Arraignment of Barnstable Police Sergeant Christopher...

The following HN Video has highlights from today’s arraignment of Barnstable Police Sergeant Christopher Challies…

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FALMOUTH – Barnstable Police Sergeant Christopher Challies was arraigned in Falmouth District Court today after being charged with drunk driving after crashing his pickup truck seven weeks ago in October.

At about 8:40PM, 10/16/2017, the first Barnstable Police patrolman on scene recognized Sergeant Christopher Challies as being the driver who had just driven his pickup truck into a telephone pole and cement post in West Barnstable.

Challies was shaken up and reported minor pain after his vehicle cracked the utility pole, causing damages which would close down a section of Route 6A in West Barnstable for about 15 hours. CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL HN COVERAGE OF THAT SCENE.

Shortly after learning that it had been a Barnstable Police Sergeant who had crashed, Barnstable Police Lieutenant John Murphy took immediate control of the scene.

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The following are actual excerpts from Lt. Murphy’s report filed in Falmouth District Court:

“I exited my cruiser and approached the accident scene. I had conversation with [the first Patrol Officers on scene,] ATCHENSON and McWILLIAMS. Each confirmed the identity of the vehicle and operator and lone occupant. The vehicle operator/owner was Christopher J. Challies, age 46, of Sandwich, MA. I made inquiry relating to Challies’s medical condition. ATCHENSON said he had obvious injuries and the vehicle had a deployed front air bag. I viewed the frontend of CHALLIES’s vehicle. It had extensive damage and a cracked windshield.

I next made further observation relating to the vehicle. It had traveled a great distance straddling the shoulder of the roadway prior to striking the utility pole. I observed no “skid” or tire marks on the pavement indicating his vehicle was forced off the road. This section of roadway is straight with no obvious “pot holes” and/or defects.

I asked ATCHESON if prior getting medical treatment, did CHALLIES make any statements. ATCHE[N]SON replied in the affirmative saying CHALLIES said he was distracted by a cellular telephone. The distance the vehicle straddled the shoulder of the roadway prior to striking the pole was not consistent with a cellular telephone distraction. I next asked ATCHE[N]SON if he made any observations relating to CHALLIES being impaired which would provide an explanation? ATCHE[N]SON said he did not smell an odor of alcohol on his person or in the vehicle. No alcohol containers were observed inside the vehicle’s interior. ATCHENSON’s conversation and observations took place outside with a breeze. These conditions may negate an odor of alcohol being detected. Based on the significant damage to the vehicle and obvious injuries, ATCHE[N]SON said he did not request the performance of a field sobriety test.

I went to the rear of the Sandwich Fire Department (SFD) Rescue vehicle which was on scene assisting. CHALLIES was inside being evaluated and treated for his injuries. I made inquiry about his medical status to an unidentified SFD member. I was told “it’s going to be a transport[.”] I opened the rear door and briefly spoke with CHALLIES. I asked him if he was okay. He said yes and started to ask me about the status of his “truck[.”] I told him don’t worry about the truck and I would speak with him at Cape Cod Hospital.

I directed ATCHENSON to follow the SFD Rescue to CCH ER and advise me relating to CHALLIES’s medical status when known. I remained at the accident speaking with West Barnstable Fire Department members, Utility workers, BCI Deputy Sheriff Al Roth, McWILLIAMS, and FRANKIO. The utility pole was basically broken in half and being held up by the wires. The vehicle could not be towed until the utility pole was secured and/or replaced. I turned the accident scene over to McWILLIAMS and responded to CCH ER.

At or around 2145 [9:45PM], I arrived at hospital ER and located ATCHE[N]SON waiting outside a treatment room. He indicated that CHALLIES was inside being attended to medically. I had a brief conversation from outside the room with CHALLIES. He was laying on a hospital gurney with his upper body elevated. He was conscious and said “I’m okay[.”] I watched as the female hospital staff member [performed] her duties. I made observation relating to CHALLIES’s eyes, body movement, and demeanor.

ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES:

I have known CHALLIES for over 10 plus years. I have had countless interactions with him. During those 10 plus years, I made the same observations of him as I described above including his speech.

On this date, I observed his eyes to be blood shot and watery. I observed his movements to be slow and deliberate. His demeanor appeared depressed and withdrawn. Those observations were in sharp contrast to my memory of his eyes, body movements, and demeanor during the previous countless encounters. I did not have enough conversation at this point [to] observe his speech.

[At this point Challies was taken to another room for further evaluation and testing.]

At or around 2200 hours [10:00PM], CHALLIES was returned to the ER room. At this time, his medical attendant said I could speak with him. CHALLIES was still laying on the hospital gurney with his upper body elevated. I asked him how he was doing physically and mentally. He replied with a question about my presence and why “the big push[?”] I replied that he was just involved in a significant accident in which he had traveled off the road for a long distance prior to striking a utility pole. I told him his truck was “totaled” and Rte 6A closed down to replace the pole. He asked “what does that mean?” “It was just an accident” “I’ve been sober and am not impaired tonight[.”]

We had additional conversation relating to him and the accident.

During this time period I was extremely close to CHALLIES. I was in a small confined ER treatment room with the curtain closed. His eyes were bloodshot and watery. I could smell the strong distinct odor of alcohol on his person. CHALLIES’s body movements were slow and deliberate. His speech was also slow and deliberate with pauses. His demeanor was clearly depressed and somewhat withdrawn. At one point, he said words to the effect “you know I’m fucked.”

I formed the opinion that CHALLIES was under the influence of alcohol. He was under the influence of alcohol while operating his vehicle. I formed the opinion based on over 35 plus years of law enforcement experience. During those years I had countless encounters, both professionally and socially, with intoxicated people. I formed countless opinions on whether people were sober or intoxicated. I also based it on my countless previous encounters with CHALLIES. During those encounters I believed he was sober. On this night his speech, movements, eyes, and demeanor were different and extremely consistent with a person under the influence of alcohol.

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On that date, 10/16/2017, and shortly after Lt. Murphy’s aforementioned observations, Sergeant Challies was advised he would be summonsed to Barnstable District Court on the charges of OUI-Liquor, Operating Negligently so as to Endanger, and Marked Lanes violation.

On 10/23/2017, the Honorable Kathryn Hand, Barnstable’s Regional Adminstrative Justice, ordered the matter be transferred from Barnstable District Court to Falmouth District Court to avoid a potential conflict of interest or appearance thereof.

On 10/16/2017, based on reports and documents filed in Falmouth District Court, HN observed no evidence or record that Sergeant Challies was ever subjected to field sobriety testing at any time after crashing his pickup truck into a utility pole. Furthermore, there is no evidence or record that Sergeant Challies had been given a Breathalyzer test. Nor was there any record of him being asked to perform a Breathalyzer test. There was also no record of his blood being tested for alcohol or drugs. Nor was there any record at all of him being asked to submit to a blood test.

These things may have been asked of Sergeant Challies… but there is no mention of whether they were, or were not, asked of him in any of the reports filed in Falmouth District Court. Had these things been requested, they typically would be mentioned in the report submitted in regards to Operating Under the Influence.

Barnstable Police Sergeant Christopher Challies is scheduled to appear back in Falmouth District Court for his pretrial hearing on January 23, 2018.

The following HN Video has highlights from today’s arraignment of Barnstable Police Sergeant Christopher Challies…

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