Future Arrest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQjT0BOWQPY Around 12:16 AM on March 1, 2025, Patrolman Thomas Hammel with the Spotswood Police Department observed a burgundy 2009 Hyundai Sonata speeding 61 MPH in a 35 MPH zone near 85 Main Street. He followed the vehicle and observed the driver continue to swerve as the vehicle headed westbound on Main Street. The driver nearly struck multiple vehicles and refused to immediately pull over when he activated his emergency lights in the vicinity of Manalapan Road and Heffron Drive. The driver continued to drive for approximately 1 mile before eventually pulling over. After the driver pulled over, Patrolman Hammel exited his patrol car and made contact with the driver, who was identified as 20-year-old Dana Lawrence.As he was speaking with Dana, he detected the odor of alcohol and observed other indicators of impairment. Dana told the officer that she was coming from work at Burger King, and that she only had a driver’s permit instead of a license. She denied consuming any alcohol earlier that evening. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Dana was eventually asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises after Sergeant Richard Drude and Patrolman Thomas Rachinsky arrived on scene to assist. Patrolman Hammel started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Patrolman Hammel observed the lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Dana failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step and turned improperly. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Dana failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and put her foot down before the test was complete. Based on her traffic infractions, the odor of alcohol, and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, Patrolman Hammel placed Dana under arrest for driving under the influence. Her vehicle was impounded for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law. Dana was transported to the Spotswood Police Department for further processing. At the Spotswood Police Department, Dana was read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators, and she agreed to submit breath samples. Her Alcotest results indicated a BAC level of 0.13%, which was above the legal limit of 0.08%. After they finished processing her, Dana was eventually released to her friend Tiago Silva pending her court appearance after he signed the Potential Liability Warning form on Dana’s behalf. Patrolman Hammel issued Dana the following traffic citations: -Operating under the influence (39:4-50) -Reckless driving (39:4-96) -Careless driving (39:4-97) -Speeding (39:4-98.29) -Failure to yield right of way to emergency vehicles (39:4-91) -Traffic on marked lanes (39:4-88) -Driving without a license – never licensed (39:3-10B) -Failure to possess driver insurance card (39:3-29C) As of June 15, 2026, Dana’s DWI case from Spotswood, NJ is still pending in court. Following this incident, Dana was later arrested again on the following occasions: -Aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer (2C:12-1B(5)(A)) in Piscataway Township, NJ on June 24, 2025 -Disorderly conduct (2C:33-2A(1)) in Spotswood, NJ on September 10, 2025 -Criminal mischief (2C:17-3A(1)) and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer (2C:12-1B(5)(A)) in Spotswood, NJ on January 11, 2026. -Driving while intoxicated in East Brunswick, NJ on March 19, 2026 ---------------------------------------------- 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. 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.

Dana Lawrence Dana Lawrence DWI DUI OVI OWI DWI arrest arrested for DWI arrested for DUI DUI arrest Spotswood East Brunswick Piscataway Township Piscataway New Brunswick Edison Fords Rutgers University Rutgers Middlesex County Spotswood Police Department Spotswood Police Jackie Palmer Spotswood Mayor East Brunswick Police Department East Brunswick Police Piscataway Police banshee woman arrested Hyundai Sonata Central Jersey drunken driver drunk girl