GREENFIELD — Repairs are on tap for Paws Park, the dog park within Green River Park on Petty Plain Road, after police say a New York man crashed into the fence on Friday while allegedly driving intoxicated in a 1978 Chevrolet van.
Michael Rockwell, 61, of Scotia, New York, was arrested Friday on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of property damage and a marked lanes violation.
According to Police Chief Todd Dodge, no one was injured during the incident, which was reported by numerous eyewitnesses in the area at approximately 6 p.m. Dodge said that with multiple recreational events occurring throughout Green River Park on Friday evening, police estimated a total of 60 to 80 people were in the park at the time.
“The wooden guardrail on the fence was broken with tire marks inside the dog park,” Dodge recounted. “Officer [Nicholas] Limoges observed a multi-colored van parked inside of the fenced-in dog park with multiple parties standing beside it.”
Dodge noted that one eyewitness reportedly removed Rockwell’s keys from the van before police arrived. Limoges reported that Rockwell was having trouble completing sentences, was slurring his words and smelled of alcohol.
When police asked Rockwell where we was going, he allegedly replied that he was “headed home from his address [in New York]” then followed up by saying “Clifton Park.” According to Dodge, when Rockwell was asked what town he was in, Rockwell replied “Glenville.”
According to Dodge, Rockwell blew “above the legal limit” during a breathalyzer test. He added that Sgt. Christopher Rowell, who also responded to Paws Park, learned of reports of a damaged mailbox outside 48 Petty Plain Road at roughly the same time as the incident.
“It’s sad to think somebody would have consumed that much alcohol and ended up in a location he wasn’t even aware of. That’s scary. It’s even scarier that he was driving a vehicle that size into such a heavily occupied park with a lot of recreational activities ongoing. This could have been a tragedy, a massive tragedy,” Dodge said. “I hope he gets the help he needs so that he doesn’t do this again. That’s really what we care about. Clearly he was not in a position to drive.”
The Greenfield Recreation Department posted on Facebook on Friday night advising residents that the dog park would be closed in the wake of the fence damage.
“For your safety as well as your pets, we ask that you stay out of this area,” the post reads. “We will update you when the area can be safely reopened.”
Recreation Director Christy Moore, in a voicemail Monday, said she was “saddened that it happened,” but “grateful that nobody got hurt, human or canine.”
“We will do our best to get it repaired as quick as possible,” Moore said.
Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.
