Update: Driver with high blood-alcohol level arraigned
5:52 PM Tue, Jul 22, 2008 | Permalink
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Stanley Kobierowski, 34, was released on $1,000 personal recognizance by Justice of the Peace Bernard Lemos -- in a hearing held in the kitchen of the state police barracks here -- pending a District Court hearing Friday. Kobierowski appeared disheveled, trembling slightly as he stood, with a bandage under his chin and wearing khaki shorts and a sweatshirt that said "AM. Eagle." He had been at Rhode Island Hospital before the arraignment, not being released until his alcohol level went to .08 -- the legal limit for driving in Rhode Island. When Kobierowski agreed to take a blood alcohol test after the accident, his first reading was .489 and the second reading was .491, according to State Police Maj. Steven O'Donnell, who said this is believed to be the highest ever reading obtained by state police. This afternoon, when Lemos asked him where he was employed, Kobierowski said the Downcity Cafe in Providence. He had also been the chef at the former LaLuna restaurant and a chef at the president's residence at Brown University. Michael Chapman, Brown vice president for public affairs and university relations, said Kobierowski has not worked for Brown for about a year; he would not say why he was no longer employed. Kobierowski has no previous record of motor vehicle violations or criminal arrests. Police said they did not know where he had been before the accident. O'Donnell said when he was asked him at the scene, he said he was coming from his North Providence home but was heading in the wrong direction. Just before midnight yesterday, state police went to the scene of an accident on Route 95, near Providence Place mall. A vehicle had hit a Department of Transportation sign. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Richard Dujardin According to a statement released by O'Donnell, the driver, Kobierowski was slurring his words and had trouble getting out of his vehicle. Troopers had to brace Kobierowski, according to O'Donnell, and help him walk to the back of his vehicle, which was blocking the highway, but he resisted, grabbing on to his vehicle. O'Donnell said troopers had to pick Kobierowski up and carry him into the breakdown lane to get him out of traffic. The 6-foot, 180-pound suspect continued to struggle, O'Donnell said, but troopers were able to handcuff him. He was too unsteady to do any of the sobriety tests, troopers said. Because of the dangerously high readings, Kobierowski was taken by rescue to Rhode Island Hospital, and restrained by the staff because of his aggressiveness, according to O'Donnell. He was held in the detoxification unit. 
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This is obviously NOT the first time he has driven drunk. Functioning at all at those levels indicate a long time build up of tolerance to alcohol.
These are the people that should be taken off the roads forever!
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Wow, what a blatant disregard for other human life. This guy should be locked up for 5 years . It would give him alot of time to think about what tragedy could have happened. Don't weep for this guy, there is help available for alcholics who WANT HELP...
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It's a miracle that no one was seriously injured or killed. Just saw footage of him being arraigned and he still looks trashed - hope he loses his license for a LONGGGGG time.
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This guy parties like a Rock Star. He has raised the bar! But his friends should have taken his keys and given him a ride. LR Berendes has no right to pass judgement. A bunch of beers and some shots of Jager will give anyone a good .5 buzz. His friends should have hung with him instead of letting him drive.
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They released him?!? Great now he can get on the road drunk again and hit more than an electronic sign.
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That high a BAC indicates the person is a "maintenance alcoholic". That is someone who has to have alcohol in their system to function. If they do not have alcohol in their system they risk going into a seizure. I find it amazing he has no prior DUI record.
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I think he would qualify for membership in Alcoholics Anonymous.
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WOW!!! I guess that last bottle of Captain wasn't necessary?
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Even if this man loses his driver's license, how does one stop him from driving? This person has a problem that attending a few AA meetings is not going to solve. His career has seemingly gone down the drain, incarcerate him and get him the most intensive treatment available or HIS life and maybe others will go down the drain.
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I know a few people who are members of Alcoholics Anonymous that are, based on their track records, walking miracles. These are the steps they took which are suggested as a program of recovery:
1) Admitted we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable.
2) Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3) Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God AS WE UNDERSTOOD HIM.
and nine more ....
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes.
Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
[The Alcoholics Anonymous Preamble – from the July, 2006 Grapevine. Reprinted with permission of The A.A. Grapevine, Inc.]
For more information check out the local web site, http://rhodeisland-aa.org/
(P.S., the people I know have been sober for over 10 years, a couple of them over 30 years, and they don't just "go to a couple of meetings". AA is part of their daily lives, and they are always willing to help the alcoholic who still suffers.)
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