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    Police-Fire Reports
    Tuesday, April 23, 2024

    Westbrook man arrested for soliciting alcohol-free breath to start car

    Kenneth Palifka

    Clinton — A Westbrook man was arrested Monday after police said he asked people to provide him with their alcohol-free breath so that he bypass his court ordered ignition interlock device.

    Kenneth Palifka, 67, was charged with avoidance of an ignition interlock device. He was released from custody after posting a $500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Middlesex Superior Court on July 1.

    Clinton police said they were dispatched to the Town Marina on Riverside Drive at about 4:40 p.m. after receiving numerous calls from witnesses who said that Palifka was asking them to breathe into the ignition interlock device.

    Police found Palifka and a male friend at the marina. They said that the pair had returned from boating on Long Island Sound and were attempting to remove Palifka’s boat and trailer “by hand” from the town boat ramp because they were unable to start Palifka’s car. Police said the two had been consuming alcohol earlier in the day.

    Court records show that Palifka was arrested twice in November 2011 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

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