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Around 4:41 AM on May 24, 2025, Sergeant Kevin Garrity with the Highland Park Police Department was in the process of issuing a summons for a parking violation on Raritan Avenue (Route 27). As he was completing the summons, he observed a gray 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class nearly strike his patrol car before swerving across the double yellow line. He began following the vehicle, and he observed the driver run through a red light at the intersection of Route 27 and Second Avenue.

He eventually activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, and the driver pulled on Route 27 before the intersection with Adelaide Avenue. Before the driver pulled over, she struck the curb and caused a flat tire on the front passenger side. He exited his patrol car and made contact with the driver, who was eventually identified as 22-year-old Destiny Rodriguez.

As he was speaking with Destiny, he detected the odor of alcohol and observed other indicators of impairment. Destiny’s passenger told the officer that they had been drinking earlier that evening. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Destiny was asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises after Officers Cleaver and Reefer arrived on scene to assist. Destiny was uncooperative the whole time, but she eventually attempted all the field sobriety exercises.

Destiny’s poor performance on the field sobriety exercises confirmed Sergeant Garrity’s suspicion of impairment. Based on her traffic infractions, the odor of alcohol, and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, Sergeant Garrity placed Destiny under arrest for driving under the influence. Her vehicle was impounded for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law. Sergeant Garrity transported Destiny to the Highland Park Police Department for further processing.

At the Highland Park Police Department, Destiny was read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators, but refused to submit breath samples. When the officers were finished with processing her, Destiny was released to Anderson Joseph around 6:20 AM after he signed the Potential Liability Warning form on Destiny’s behalf.

Sergeant Garrity issued Destiny the following traffic citations: 
-Operating under the influence (39:4-50)
-Refusal to submit to chemical test (39:4-50.4A)
-Consent to take samples of breath (39:4-50.2)
-Reckless driving (39:4-96)
-Failure to obey traffic control device (39:4-81)
-Traffic on marked lanes (39:4-88)

On March 26, 2026, Destiny was found guilty of operating under the influence. As a result of her guilty conviction, Destiny had to use an ignition interlock device for 3 months, spend 12 hours at an intoxicated driver resource center, and pay a total of $690 in fines. The other 5 citations were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. 
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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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