Women Charged after Staff and Customers of Fieldstones Stop a DUI

Two area women were charged with a variety of offenses after police were called when they allegedly tried to drive away from Fieldstones Restaurant while intoxicated on July 13.

Police said they were dispatched to the parking lot of the restaurant at 9:33 p.m. for a report of a drunk driver trying to leave.

The staff and customers were trying to stop the women, identified as Erin Elise Barry, 44, of 62 Sakonnet Drive, Portsmouth; and Jean Marie Fontaine, 49, of 86 Willow Ave., Little Compton, from leaving in a BMW operated by Fontaine, according to a police report.

Upon arrival, police ordered Fontaine to turn off the car and she appeared disoriented, police said. She later failed a field sobriety test, leading to a charge of driving under the influence.

Barry, police said, refused to get out of the car when ordered by police and launched into an expletive-laden tirade directed at both officers and the crowd that had gathered around the scene. Once out of the car, she allegedly spat in an officer’s face and struggled against efforts to put her into handcuffs.

Witnesses at the scene said the women had been at the restaurant and were fine until they “eventually displayed extreme intoxication,” police said. On their way out, they allegedly were “dry humping” a man at the bar before they tried to leave. Staff said they asked them not to drive and offered to get them a taxi, but they declined.

Witnesses then saw them fall in the parking lot as they made their way to the car. A couple with a small child then asked them not to drive and a heated argument arose.

All told, Barry was charged with obstruction of justice, resisting arrest, simple assault and disorderly conduct and was later released with a court summons.

Fontaine was charged with refusing a chemical test in addition to the DUI charge.