Police: Beverly chief teaches tailgater a lesson
BEVERLY — Beginner driving lessons: Don't tailgate. Don't tailgate the police chief. And don't offer obscene gestures to the police chief after he pulls over to let you pass by.
Beverly police said that's exactly what Robert Cardavelli did on Thursday while apparently becoming impatient in lunchtime traffic. Chief Mark Ray reported he was driving along Elliott Street when Cardavelli started tailgating his unmarked cruiser. He nearly hit him when Ray stopped for other cars, the chief said.
Ray said he tried to cooperate. "I pulled to the side and allowed (Cardavelli) to pass. Operator made an obscene gesture when passing," he wrote in his report on the incident.
It was then that Ray decided to let his identity be known.
Cardavelli, 24, of 254 Albion St., Wakefield, was cited for following too closely after the chief pulled him over near Opal Avenue at 12:17 p.m.
Ray reported he'd given Cardavelli a verbal warning for not wearing a seat belt. No citations were made for the obscene gesture.
— Mike Stucka
