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March 27, 2012

Police: Body armor no protection for irate driver

By Alan Burke Staff Writer

DANVERS — If you're unhappy with your fellow drivers, be sure to remove your body armor before confronting them.

Ralph Suman, 19, of 252 Essex St., Beverly, learned that lesson yesterday, after he got into an accident on Elliott Street. There were no injuries listed, but Suman grew so angry that he caused a disturbance, berating the driver he had collided with, and finally kicking and damaging her car, according to police.

He was subsequently arrested by Officer Derek Colella, drawing eight charges from actions that police characterize as "tumultuous" and upsetting to a number of onlookers.

Kicking the car amounted to "malicious or wanton damage or defacement" and a felony, according to police. And by wearing the body armor as he did this, he committed a second felony, police said.

Suman did not give police a reason why he was wearing body armor around noon yesterday. Simply wearing body armor, which is designed to protect the wearer against bullets and other offensive weapons, is not a crime.

Additional charges include disorderly conduct, negligent driving, not taking care, marked-lanes violations, a number plate violation and violating the city's knife ordinance.

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