LOWVILLE, NY —Â Ralph C. Matuszczak, 49, of 769 Pine St., Mooresville, NC, was stopped at 12:20 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 25, on River Street in Lowville after the pickup truck he was operating was observed traveling eastbound on Stowe Street at an abnormally slow speed while swerving in the roadway, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
“As Matuszczak continued on River Street, he refused to yield to a traffic stop and continued eastbound on River Street. Matuszczak then parked his truck in a nearby parking lot where he locked himself inside and refused to exit. After access was gained into the truck, Matuszczak resisted his arrest and attempted to punch a sheriff’s deputy. Matuszczak was eventually removed from his vehicle and taken into custody following a TASER deployment,” deputies wrote.
His blood alcohol content was 0.18 percent, deputies said. A BAC of 0.08 percent or more is considered proof of intoxication under state law. Aggravated DWI, which carries harsher penalties upon conviction, is charged when the BAC is 0.18 percent or greater.
Mr. Matuszczak is charged with aggravated DWI, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, resisting arrest, second-degree harassment, failure to comply with a lawful order, refusal to submit to a breath test and failure to keep right.
He is summoned to appear in Lowville Village Court at a later date.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by New York State Police, Lowville Village Police Department and Lewis County Search and Rescue.
   