Peabody man indicted for fifth OUI

SALEM – A Peabody career criminal who in August received a sentence of time served and placed on probation for a domestic dispute has now been indicted for his fifth drunken driving charge.An Essex County grand jury reviewing cases Friday handed up two indictments against Peter Hurley, 51, charging him with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, fifth offense, resisting arrest, operating a motor vehicle after suspension of his license and threats to commit a crime to wit assault and battery.On Nov. 4 Hurley was driving a Toyota RAV4 SUV when he slammed out of a Walnut Street parking lot, drove over a curb and had no headlights on shortly after 11 p.m.Peabody Patrolman Richard Rose observed him, turned on the flashing lights and began to follow Hurley as he drove onto Central Street without stopping, crossing traffic lines and then pulling into a parking lot on Foster Street.Hurley was reportedly combative as it took several officers to place him into a police cruiser, according to reports.While being transported to the police station he reportedly kicked the door and windows of the cruiser.In August, Hurley, of 111R Main St., Peabody, pleaded guilty in a plea deal to domestic assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a wall. He was given time served and a suspended 18-month sentence with two years probation after the girlfriend declined to testify.The indictments now move the case from Peabody District Court, where he has pleaded innocent, to Salem Superior Court where he will be re-arraigned within a few weeks.In the meantime, Hurley remains held without bail at the Middleton Jail.Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Kirshenbaum is prosecuting the case.Also indicted was Michael J. Whitcomb, 41, of 28 Kelleher Road, Beverly, charged with armed robbery as well as assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.The charges arise out of an incident in Peabody in the early morning hours of Oct. 23 when he allegedly robbed a man on Jackson Street as the man was trying to give him directions.Indictments are not an indication of guilt, rather it is a legal process that allows a case to be transferred from District Court to Superior Court allowing for a more severe punishment.