Please like, subscribe, [bell] and consider supporting our channel. The full raw, uncensored, no narrations, no captions, and an edited version of this body cam footage can be found in the description below. Please consider joining our Patreon. Subscriptions and donations will be used to acquire more public footage related to law enforcement activities. It really helps us do original fulllength reporting like this. Sharing this video serves a compelling public interest because it is intended to illustrate the consequences of shoplifting, trespassing, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and being under the influence and discourage others [clears throat] doing so. Defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty. Thank you all for the support. Hi, how are you? Good. I'm patrolman writing with the Rumson Police Department. I just got like my body cameras activated. Okay, guys. See your license, registration, proof of insurance, please. Where you come from tonight? >> My uh >> your boyfriend's okay. All right. You just trying to get home or something? >> Yeah, I live in. >> Okay. All right. Why you grab those? Reason I'm stopping you. was my >> around 11 p.m. on April 26th, 2024, officers with the Rumson Police Department were advised that a reckless driver was on Ridge Road headed towards Holy Cross Church. Patrolman James Writing observed a 2012 Lexus turning onto Ward Avenue from Harturn Lane. After he observed the vehicle pass him from the Holy Cross parking lot, he began following the vehicle on Ward Avenue and observed that the driver did not properly signal at the stop sign near the intersection of Ward Avenue and Rumson Road. The driver stopped in the middle of Ward Avenue, splitting the north and south lanes before turning left onto Rumson Road eastbound. As the vehicle approached the Seabbrite Bridge, he observed the driver swerving across the double yellow line >> behind you. You didn't signal 100 feet prior to making your turn onto Rumson Road. You were in the middle of the road. You weren't maintaining your lane at all. Okay. And your license plate bracket covers the Garden State, which is another obstruction. Okay. Can you just grab those documents for me, please? [snorts] Thank you. Red 104. HGS having any luck. >> So I just switch cars. >> Okay. I think it might be in the other one. All right. um at your boyfriend. Do you have anything to drink tonight? >> No. >> No, not at all. Excuse me. >> Hm. >> It's my dad's. >> Okay. Um, if you have the registration for this car, I need the registration for this car because you're operating this and and [snorts] the insurance for it. Okay. You mind just turn the car off for me, though. Thank you. I appreciate it. Keep looking for that. I'll be right back with you. Okay. All right. So, initially I had thought I had some slight odor. Um, definitely operation is all there. very slow with her movements, very slow with her talking. Um, just trying to find those two documents. I'm just trying to figure out where we're going to run these tests. Right here on these on the rocks. Okay. >> All right. Yeah. >> Yeah. All right. >> Just give me a second. I want to call this out. >> Yeah. I'll talk to it, too. >> Yeah. Just try and Melissa, dude, listen to this. When I She was driving real slow down Ward. When she came up to the stop sign, she didn't signal whatsoever until I was like right behind her. Stopped way after the stop line. You saw her. She was in the >> She was in the middle of the road. >> PD sending one over. >> Then she had And then she had the one. She was when she turned on the rumps and she was in the middle of the road for headquarters 101. God. At this time, he activated his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop prior to the bridge. He made contact with the driver who was identified as Melissa. As he was speaking with Melissa he detected the odor of alcohol. Melissa told the officer that she was heading home. She denied consuming alcohol earlier that evening. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Melissa was asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises. >> Hi, how are you? >> Good. Whose car is that? My dad's. >> Your dad's. >> Okay. Where are you headed to right now? >> My home. >> Where? >> My home. >> Okay. Where do you live? >> Okay. Uh where you coming from tonight again? >> Okay. Where where were you guys at tonight? >> Where where were you go? You guys were at his house all night or did you go anywhere? You didn't go out to dinner or nothing? Um, you have anything to drink tonight? Nothing at all. You want any kind of medication, anything like that? No. You don't use any drugs, recreationally, anything like that? No. Okay. Uh, you can have this back. Okay. All right, Melissa. So, we'll be honest with you. All right. We got some complaints about your driving. Okay. It was one of the reasons for us stopping you and investigating you out here tonight. Okay. Um, your speech is a little bit slow with me. Okay. Um, your movements are a little bit slow and the operation of your vehicle was a little concerning. Okay. >> Sorry, it's a different >> Okay. Would you be okay with stepping out of the vehicle and just talking to us out here so we can just make sure you're okay to drive, too, but >> Okay. Well, at this point, it's it's a lawful order. Okay. So, I'm tell I'm telling you step out of you going to come talk just over here out of traffic. Okay. Thank you. You can just step over there. We just want to run you through some tests and make sure that you're good to drive. Okay. >> You okay? You all right? I don't want to see you fall. All right. Just come over here into the rocks. Okay. I don't want you to get hit by a car. All right. Listen, I just got to ask you just a silly question. Okay. You familiar with the English alphabet? You know the English? Okay. Um, just real quick for me without singing it, would you be able to recite the English alphabet for me starting with A and ending with Z? >> A B C D H E Q R S T U V S >> Okay. Okay. Um, do you have any injuries to your lower back, your legs, or anything like that? >> Okay. Does that affect your balance at all? uh every once in a while, but it shouldn't. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Do you want to just could you step in front of my vehicle just so that we're not on like an uneven uh surface right here? We're just going to test your balance. Okay. >> Um if you think if you think it would be easier without your shoes on, just being that they're heels, you could you could certainly take your shoes off. If not, you could leave them on. Okay. It's up to you. You mind just stepping off the car and not leaning on that at all? >> Um, you want to go talk to him and I'll >> Yeah, I would run her over there just cuz if someone hits the back of your car, you guys are both going to get hurt. >> Just step back over here. If someone hits that car, you're going to get hit. So, I don't I just want to get you off the road. Okay. >> All right. Listen right here. What's going on? HDM came in as a uh reckless driving complaint. >> Not you want to have her do this on a rollway so she ain't playing [ __ ] rock. >> Damn it. I don't want to I don't want to see you back to have her get [ __ ] hit. Oh, what do you think's better? >> Yeah, cuz take it forward. They're going to give you [ __ ] on [ __ ] >> Yeah, you're right. If you just step, stand right here. Okay, I'm going to explain you to you some instructions. Okay, for this test, starting position, you have your feet together completely. >> Okay, I understand that. We got to make sure you're good to drive. Okay, so I'm just going to give you >> live like >> that. That's fine. Okay, I just got to do my job. Okay, >> I'm going to I'm going to explain this these instructions to you. Okay, you're going to put your feet together, your legs completely straight, and your arms completely straight. Your side Perfect. All right. All right. Melissa, follow me. Okay. Not right now. Okay. >> I'm good to go. >> All right, Melissa. Like I was saying for this test, this test is called the one leg stand. Okay. You're going to start the starting position is going to be your >> I'm also like freezing. >> That's okay. Like I said, I just got to run you through these tests, okay? Make sure you're good to go. >> Are you going to take account that I'm freezing? >> Yes. Okay. I I understand that. I just got to do my job. Okay. >> Mhm. >> You're going to start with your your feet completely your legs completely straight, your feet together, okay? And your arms completely straight down at your side. Okay? Stay in that position until I complete the instructions. Okay? You're going to take either leg of your choosing. You lift it approximately six inches off the ground. Okay? You're going to keep your legs completely straight, your arms completely straight. You make eye contact with the tip of your toe. >> I'm a physical therapist and most people can do that, but I'll try. >> Okay. You're going to you're going to keep eye contact with the tip of your toe and you're going to count out loud 1,000 2,000 3 100 so on and so forth. Okay? >> Until I tell you to stop. Okay? Do you understand the directions? >> Okay, you can begin. First of all, it's freezing. >> Okay, >> listen. Do you want to try taking your shoes off? >> Really cold. >> I understand. Listen, if it's going to help you, >> it's not really going to change much. >> No reason. >> Okay. You think the cold affect your balance? Okay. >> Okay. Like I like I said, feet together, arms completely straight, legs completely straight. Either leg of your choosing, six inches off the ground, making eye contact with the tip of your toe. You're going to count out loud 1,00 2 100 3 100. Keeping those legs straight and your arms tucked to your side. Okay. Until I tell you to stop. Okay. Do you understand? Okay, you can begin. Okay. Is it is it you >> you can continue. >> It's up to you. >> It's going to help you maintain your balance. Okay, you can make it. Okay. Okay, you're good. All right. This next test we're going to do is called the walk and turn test. Okay. Similar to that last starting position, you're going to start with your legs completely straight, your arms completely straight. You're going to have your left foot in front of your right. Okay? And you're going to stay in that position until I tell you to be in the test. Okay? I'm going to give you some instructions. For this test, you're going to be taking nine heel to toe steps forward. and then nine heel to toe steps back. I'm going to demonstrate before you begin, okay? But for demonstration purposes, I'm going to give you I'm going to take three steps, okay? Starting with your left foot in front of your right, heel to toe, keeping your arms tucked to your side. You're going to count out loud. 1 2 3 in a straight line. >> Patrolman James Camelary arrived on scene to assist. and patrolman Tai Manning with the Sebrite Police Department was also called to the scene to administer the horizontal gaze nestagmas HGN test. The first field sobriety was the recitation of the alphabet which Melissa was unable to do satisfactorily. The second exercise was the one leg stand test. During the one leg stand test, Melissa failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and put her foot down before the test was complete. The third exercise was the walk and turn test. During the walk and turn test, Melissa did not touch heel to toe on each step and turned improperly. The final exercise was the HGN test and patrolman Manning observed indicators of impairment. After the field sobriety exercises were complete, Melissa admitted to consuming one drink earlier that evening. You're [snorts] leave one foot planted on the ground. You're take small steps to turn around. You [snorts] take one, two, three, all the way up to nine steps backwards counting out loud. Okay? And you're going to walk a straight line. Do you understand? Okay? You can begin. Okay, thank you. And then we just have one last test for you. Okay. And this officer is going to conduct that test. >> Hi, ma'am. I'm strong man with red police department. What's your name? >> Mel. >> Mel. Very nice to meet you, Mel. You got anything medically wrong with your eyes? >> Mel. Very good. So, what I'm going to have you do, I'm going have you stand right in front of me. We're going to go face to face. Okay. Want you put your feet together, hands down inside. All right. So for this portion of the test, we're going to be doing take this pen. You're going to say directly to this pen. Okay. >> I want you to move only your eyes and your eyes only. Call the tip of the pen. Put the eyes and the eyes only. Okay. Do you understand these instructions? Very good, man. Don't look up the light. Look up the pen. Sorry. See the tip of the pen? >> Mhm. It's okay. We're almost done. Okay. Just maintain your eyes on that thing, too. Just your eyes. Hey, just your eyes. All right. >> I know. I'm freezing. I'm sorry. >> I know. We're almost done. We're almost done. All right. Now, listen. Just the same test. I'm just going to go up. Okay. Just ride your eyes only, please. All right. Thank you very much, man. Put your shoes back on. Okay. >> Can I car? >> Not yet. >> I know it's cold out. >> I'm actually ready to go in my car. >> Okay. Well, you can't go in your car yet. Okay. >> All right. or you lost. >> Once again, >> uh, you were going to >> You didn't have anything at all to drink tonight. You didn't do too well on these tests. Okay. All right. I'm just being honest with you. >> I'm freezing. I'm sorry. >> Okay, that's fine. All right. At this time, do you mind just putting your your shoes down for me? Please >> put your shoes back on. >> Yeah. >> I'd rather like sit down and put them on. >> Okay. >> My balance is not that great cuz my back is not that great. >> Okay, that's fine. You can We can walk over once these cars pass. We'll walk back over by the vehicles. Okay. All right. You follow this officer. All right. You have a seat in your car with your shoes on. Okay. Do not start your engine. Ty, can you run the box? Yes. >> Okay. Okay. Let's see. mind just hopping back out again and coming to the back of your car? >> All right. Well, listen. Listen. >> Oh, you're have to take it off. Okay. So, listen. I'm going to give you one opportunity to be honest with us. Okay. >> Did you have anything to drink tonight? >> No, I really didn't. >> Did you take anything? >> No. >> Okay. Because you failed every test, including the alphabet. Okay. I'm going to give you an opportunity to tell me what's going on. >> Okay. What's going on tonight? So, I've had like one drink, but I'm really also like I'm also >> based on her erratic driving, the odor of alcohol, and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises. Patrolman Writington placed Melissa under arrest for driving under the influence. Her vehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold according to J's law. Patrolman Writington transported Melissa to the Rumson Police Department for further processing. It was a good idea to drive tonight. I >> mean, like, I probably could have not. >> Okay. All right. So, listen. At this point, this officer can place you under arrest for DWI. Okay. Driving while I don't have an I don't I'm not intoxicated. Can I just put your your arms behind your back? Okay. >> At this point, you're under arrest for driving while intoxicated. Okay. Like I said, you did fail every so often. Yep. You'll get one in a little bit. >> Okay. Just take your hands. >> Please separate your hands. >> Separate your hands. >> Yep. You can call them in a little bit. >> Okay. Just separate your hands. Okay. Those tight enough. You need baby cuffs again. Should be good. It's going to be towed. headquarters. Can you send a 17 for console tow it? >> No, it has to be towed. He can't take it. >> No, he's not going to take it. >> You can call him when we're done processing you. Okay. You don't You're just You're going to be released on with with some traffic tickets at the end of the night. Okay. >> Okay. >> You follow me over to this car. Okay. I'm going to walk back. Yes. I got you. I got you. Just >> Okay. Just have a seat there. Okay. >> Yep. >> All right. If you could just look straight that way. Okay. I'm going to buckle you in. >> We're just going to be off the road. Just right. >> Can you drive back, please? >> You can. It has to be towed. Please, please, please. >> There's no questions asked. It has to be told. >> Okay. >> Please, first get me to >> Are you notifying my dad? >> Uh, someone will have to come pick you up. >> No, well, if that's not the person you want to pick you up, your boyfriend come pick you up. Okay. But we'll we'll figure that out when we get back to the station. Okay. drive by headquarters real quick for headquarters. We're going to have one female 41 at this time. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Make sure she's good. I'm just going to drive. >> Okay. >> Um she came up to the stop sign here. >> She when she stopped at the stop sign, she was in the middle of the road. >> Yeah. >> And then uh she was past the stop line. um she pulled out on the Rumpson road. Another car was like right behind her and I could just see her down driving down the center of the road. So that's why we lit her up here. I wasn't I didn't I wanted to light her up over in front of Tommy's >> and we just we couldn't let her drive any further. She was driving down the middle of the road. Melissa, can you just tell me where your your key is for the car? >> If you came in my purse, I will give you that. >> Okay, it's it's in your purse. >> Okay. All right. I'll be right back. Okay. >> Okay. For a second, I got to have my phone and call him. >> Yeah, that's going to that's going to come with it. >> He's literally coming to my apartment right now. So, can you see this? >> Like I like I told you, we'll we'll cross that bridge in a second. Okay. >> Okay. All right. I'll be right back with you. All right. purse. Um, yeah, she she's begging for that phone call, but I told her, "Well, I told her I could wait." Um, >> process. You want her whole entire purse with her? >> Yes, she does. Purse phone. >> Yeah, why not? Oh yeah. >> [snorts] >> Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. >> All right. Four head course. Go ahead. >> Who' you contact for that tow? >> Just stand by. Declined so far. >> Grace, once you get a hold of someone, just let them know to come to headquarters to pick up keys. I'm going to be transporting one female 41 103 101 starter. You You can't. I told you it's by law. We can't let you drive anyone drive this car away tonight. >> No. >> Headquarters 101 starting miles transporting one female 41 103. 47796 47796. Wow. What was that >> cuz we're Rumson Police Department. So, we're going to the Rumson Police Department. I just needed to turn around. 41 counting 441. Go ahead. in Lincoln with New Jersey Echo 48 Bravo drop. 41 10 41 repeat 10 23 All right. All right. Crystal 47 79 4779 3. Okay, we're going to have to put those back on. Okay, so turn around. Put your hands behind your back, please. >> One second. Watch her. She slips out of the car. >> I'm not trying to get out. >> It's okay, dude. We get We get it. Yeah. >> You got small questions. >> Okay. >> Um, where car? >> Uh, we got to we got to determine who the the towing company is that's going to come pick up the car. Once you figure that out, I'll let you know. That'll that'll be on the paperwork you get when you get let go. Okay. Um, once we get inside, we can work on calling someone to come pick you up. Okay. Someone's going to have to take uh uh possession of you tonight cuz you need to be watched for the next 12 hours. Watch yourself. Have a seat on that bench right there. Oh yeah. a favor. Stand up and just face that wall. Okay. Take a hand off. Unclass your hands for me. Thank you. Melissa was read the standard statement for motor vehicle operators at the station, but she refused to submit breath samples. Melissa was eventually released to her boyfriend pending her court appearance after he signed the potential warning form on Melissa's behalf. Patrolman Writington issued Melissa the following citations operating under the influence. Consent to take samples of breath, failure to give proper signal and traffic on marked lanes. >> Hang on. All right, let's have a seat again. Let's have a seat. Slide this way a little bit. Is this handcuff too tight on you? work. Got it. Start your tank 20 minute observation now. Uh 23 Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So, we got to run you through a couple more things. >> So, listen. So, we got some paperwork to do and we got to process you. Okay. You're >> not so after. Okay. You're not going to county jail or nothing like that. Okay. It's just traffic. That's what I'm going to do. All right. >> All I know is that right now. >> Okay. You can't make any phone calls until we're done with this machine. just go ahead. >> Yeah. How are you, sir? >> Yeah. Okay. I'm patrolling cam laws PD. Okay. So, are you're Melissa's boyfriend? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, I'm going to explain to you what's going on tonight. Okay. So, she was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Okay. Um she conducted a traffic stop, random field test. She failed them as she was placed under arrest for a drive to talk. Okay. Um in order for me to release her to you, you essentially need to sign over custody of her to make sure she will not get behind a vehicle again tonight. Um and if she does get behind her vehicle again and you allow her to, you yourself can be charged with driving while Okay. So >> yeah, I got to read you this form verbatim. Okay. But that's basically what this says in Lemon's terms. Okay. This says, "You have been summoned by uh or on behalf of the person whose name appears above as defendant." That's Melissa. Okay. To transport or accompany the defendant from this law enforcement agency. The defendant has been arrested and charged with one or both of the following motor vehicle violations checked in the box above uh pursuant to NJSA 394-50.22. This warning is to advise that if you accept responsibility to transport or accompany the defendant and you permit or facilitate the operation of a motor vehicle by the defendant while the defendant is intoxicated or has a blood alcohol concentration at or above that permitted by law covered under 394-50, then you are potentially subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Permitting a person who is intoxicated or has a blood alcohol concentration at or above that permitted by law to operate a motor vehicle is a violation of 394-50A driving while intoxicated. Okay. If you are charged and convicted under that statute, your driving privilege will be suspended. Fines and monetary penalties will be imposed and you may be incarcerated. If you permit or facilitate the defendant to operate a motor vehicle while the defendant remains intoxicated or has a blood alcohol concentration at or above that permitted by law and the defendant becomes involved in a motor vehicle collision where other persons are injured or killed, then you may be subject to indictment and criminal prosecution. If you are prosecuted and found guilty, the court can impose fines and mandatory penalties and a prison sentence. In addition to any criminal liability, if you permit or facilitate the defendant to operate a motor vehicle while the defendant remains intoxicated or has a blood alcohol concentration at or above that permitted by law and the defendant becomes involved in a motor vehicle collision where there is property damage, personal injury or death, then you may be held liable for civil damages and those damages may not be covered by insurance. Do you understand that? Okay. So, if you can just print your name uh and your address right there for me. Okay. Okay. So, I'm going to uh get you your own copy of this. Okay. All right. Are there like tickets or paperwork? >> Yeah. So, she's going to have tickets. Um, >> court records indicate that on September 11th, 2024, Melissa pleaded guilty to operating under the influence. As a result of her guilty plea, Melissa had to spend 12 hours at an intoxicated driver resource center, use an ignition interlock device for 3 months, and pay a total of $690 in fines. The other three citations were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. >> Going to be charged with driving while intoxicated and refusing to submit to breath testing. Um, nothing criminal. It was all traffic court. Okay. Now, she'll have a court date of I believe it's May 8th here in Lumpson. We just report right next door. And I'll also give you information for her uh her car that's being towed to Hennessy's towing. Um, and she can get that 12 hours from when we compounded till like 11:00 a.m. doing noon tomorrow. Okay. >> Okay.