Around 12:20 AM on February 14, 2026, Patrolman Sergio DePinto with the Island Heights Police Department observed a black 2020 Kia Optima swerving on West End Avenue. He began following the driver and observed her continuing to swerve as she was driving on Route 37. He eventually activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, and the driver pulled over on Route 37 near the intersection with Brookside Drive in the neighboring town of Toms River. After the driver pulled over, Patrolman DePinto exited his patrol car to make contact with the driver, who was eventually identified as Abriana Velez. As he was speaking with Abriana, he suspected that she may be impaired because she was slurring her words. She told Patrolman DePinto that she was headed back home after leaving a bowling alley. She also claimed that she worked for Amazon, and that she had went out with coworkers earlier that evening. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Patrolman DePinto asked Abriana to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises after Patrolman Anthony Zappola arrived on scene to assist. Her poor performance on the field sobriety exercises confirmed the officers’ suspicions of impairment. Based on her erratic driving, the odor of alcohol, her admission to consuming alcohol earlier that evening, and her inability to satisfactorily perform the field sobriety exercises, Abriana was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. Her vehicle was impounded for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law. Patrolman DePinto transported Abriana to the Island Heights Police Department for further processing. At the station, the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators was read to Abriana, and she eventually agreed to submit breath samples. Her Alcotest results indicated a BAC level of 0.19%, which was more than double the legal limit of 0.08%. After they finished processing Abriana, she was eventually released to a sober adult pending her court appearance after she signed the Potential Liability Warning form on Abriana’s behalf. Abriana was issued the following citations: -Operating under the influence (39:4-50) -Reckless driving (39:4-96) -Careless driving (39:4-97) -Failure to maintain lane (39:4-88) -Failure to possess a driver’s license (39:3-29A) -Safety glass requirement (39:3-75) Court records indicate that on May 11, 2026, Abriana pleaded guilty to operating under the influence. As a result of her conviction, she had to use an ignition interlock device for 3 months, spend 12 hours at an intoxicated driver resource center, and pay a total of $640 in fines. ---------------------------------------------- Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and consider supporting this channel (email us for more information). Our content is shared for educational and news gathering purposes. We are in compliance with YouTube's Fair Use Policy because we edit several long clips into a concise story. This is similar to other law enforcement channels on YouTube. All videos and case documents were obtained pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq. (P.L. 2024, c.16). Defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty. The New Jersey Supreme Court has previously affirmed in Salzano v. North Jersey Media Group, 993 A.2d 778 (2010) that “The fair-report privilege reflects the judgment that the need, in a self-governing society, for free-flowing information about matters of public interest outweighs concerns over the uncompensated injury to a person's reputation.” This video advances a compelling public interest. The summary of events was based on records that are “open to public view through open access to public records” as defined in the Salzano case. In Ramos v. Flowers, 429 N.J. Super. 13, the Appellate Division of the Superior Court has also affirmed the right to film law enforcement interactions.

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