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Around 1:47 AM on May 24, 2024, Patrolman Timothy Shockley with the Medford Township Police Department observed blue 2023 Acura speeding 53 MPH in a 40 MPH zone in the vicinity of Taunton Road and Middlegate Drive North. He began following the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop on Taunton Road in the vicinity of Chestnut Road. He exited his patrol car and made contact with the driver, who was soon identified as Tammy Gerke-Jones.

As he was speaking with her, he detected the odor of alcohol and observed other indicators of impairment. Tammy admitted to consuming alcohol earlier that evening. Based on his suspicion of impairment, she was asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises after Patrolman Daniel Matthews arrived on scene to assist.

At this time, Tammy became uncooperative and told the officers that she would not perform any field sobriety exercises. She was then instructed to exit the vehicle so that the officers could continue their investigation. However, she refused so Patrolmen Shockley and Matthews both grabbed her arms. Even after they grabbed her arms, Tammy continued to be argumentative withe the officers. Sergeant Walsh tried to reason with her, but she still refused to obey their lawful order. Instead, she argued with the officers over how she knew her rights and did not have to exit the vehicle. Eventually, the officers had to use force and remove her from the vehicle.

After she was placed under arrest and placed inside the patrol car, her vehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold under John’s Law. Patrolman Shockley transported Tammy to the Medford Township Police Department for further processing. At the station, the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators was read to her, but she refused to submit breath samples. Since she made some concerning remarks while they were processing her, it was determined that she would be transported to Virtua Marlton Hospital for further evaluation before she could be released.

She was issued the following tickets: 
-Operating under the influence (39:4-50)
-Consent to take samples of breath (39:4-50.2)
-Reckless driving (39:4-96)
-Open Container (39:4-51B)
-Speeding (39:4-98.24)

She was also criminally charged with resisting arrest (2C:29-2A(1)) and obstruction (2C:29-1A).

On September 12, 2024, Tammy’s citations for operating under the influence, consent to take samples of breath, and speeding were dismissed. However, she was found guilty of reckless driving and having an open container. Her criminal charge of resisting arrest was dismissed while the other charge of obstruction was downgraded to a Peace and Good Order ordinance violation (LO 111-1). As a result of her convictions, Tammy had to pay a total of $1,063 in fines.
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