Town Councilor Cited in Hit and Run

North Kingstown Town Council member Michael Bestwick has been cited following an alleged hit and run at Pagoda Inn.

Reports recently released from the state that witnesses saw Bestwick back into a SUV while leaving the restaurant on Oct. 15. Witnesses said Bestwick left the parking lot in his white Ford F-150.

“I supposedly hit someone,” Bestwick said in response to the report. “I didn’t realize that I had hit another car. There was no damage to my truck, just a black mark.”

Police reports indicate a witness said she sat next to Bestwick at the bar and he seemed tired and smelled as though he had been drinking alcoholic beverages.

Later that night, police arrived at Bestwick’s house and inspected the truck, which they alleged had minor damage and paint transfer on the driver’s side rear bumper. Police photographed the damage and attempted to contact Bestwick, who was not home at the time, but received no answer.

On Oct. 18, Bestwick arrived at the North Kingstown Police Department after police left him a message that morning concerning the incident, telling officers that the morning’s message was the first he’d heard of an accident involving his truck.

Bestwick’s truck showed no signs of damage and, according to police, appeared to have been recently cleaned and waxed, especially in the driver’s side rear quarter panel area. Bestwick told officers he washed the car after he noticed a black mark on the rear bumper.

When police confronted Bestwick with the photographs showing the damage and paint transfer on his truck, he told officer he did notice the damage and responded by washing the truck.

Bestwick has been cited for duty to report collision with unattended vehicle and improper backing.