Alleged drunk driver tries to make a swim for it

A Revere man stopped for making an illegal left turn onto Revere Beach Boulevard near Kelly's early Sunday morning tried to escape a state trooper by running into the frigid waters of the Atlantic, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office says.

Terrance Paiva, 41, pleaded innocent this morning to charges of operating under the influence - his fourth such charge - operating with a suspended license and failing to stop for police, according to the DA's office, which says Paiva made a break for it after the trooper returned to her cruiser around 3 a.m. to check his license and registration:

Paiva allegedly fell on his face, peeled himself off the pavement, and continued down Revere Beach. The trooper transmitted Paiva's name and description to State Police dispatchers and another trooper soon located him in the surf. The troopers converged on Paiva and escorted him from the water.

During the booking process, Paiva allegedly made statements indicating that he was not drunk but rather high on cocaine, though he did allegedly admit to having some drinks at the nearby Cove Lounge.

Paiva was convicted of motor-vehicle homicide in 2004 when, on his third OUI offense, he plowed into a brick wall, killing his passenger, according to prosecutors.

Innocent, etc.