Boater Charged With OUI After Grounding At Great Point

Two people walked away without injury after their boat grounded Saturday night near Great Point. The vessel's owner has been charged with boating under the influence of alcohol.

The 30-foot Jupiter center console powerboat grounded along the eastern shoreline of Great Point around 8 p.m., and was reported to police by nearby anglers, according to Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge Manager Diane Lang.

The two passengers were uninjured, according to Coast Guard Station Brant Point chief John Lowell. The owner of the boat, Harold Beacham, was arrested and charged with boating under the influence of alcohol, according to the Nantucket Police Department's daily log.

Nantucket Police Department Lt. Angus MacVicar did not return a message seeking comment on Sunday. But according to a police report obtained by the Current through the Nantucket District Court, officers were dispatched to the area around 8:32 p.m. Saturday night after a 911 call from a person who stated a boat had just run aground at Great Point with two people on board.

"The reporting party stated the male party was drunk and he was yelling at the female party," the report states. "I, Sergeant Mauldin, and Officer Santoro responded to Great Point, where we met with the operator of the vessel, Harold Beacham. Beacham had a strong odor of alcohol emanating from his facial area. This was at least an hour after the initial call was received to the police department...His eyes were bloodshot and glassy. He also admitted to operating the boat and consuming alcohol. Beacham's story kept changing from him consuming three beers to sharing a bottle of wine with his wife...Beacham stated he ran into the beach after being confused in his direction of travel. He also stated he frequently fishes in that area, and is familiar with navigating those waters." 

Sgt. Mauldin wrote in her report that Beacham failed all three field sobriety tests that were administered, after which he was placed under arrest. 

Lang stated that the vessel's owner was working on securing a commercial salvage company to remove the boat from the beach, but it remained at Great Point at dusk on Sunday.

"All I know is they ran aground," Lang told the Current. "The police questioned them. Our emergency plan that we discussed with all the first responders worked as best it could. We all got there."