Police in New Jersey accused a man of driving while drunk, leading officers on a chase and several moving violations on Nov. 3. Officers in Garwood took the Roselle man into custody on charges of DWI, eluding an officer and other offenses.
A sergeant from the Garwood Police Department said that he saw a grey Nissan traveling on North Avenue attempt to turn onto Center Street. The driver of that car reportedly entered the northbound lanes traveling south and then re-entered North Avenue at a high rate of speed. The officer attempted to stop the driver after witnessing the car swerving, but the driver allegedly failed to comply.
The Nissan stopped in the 200 block of Second Avenue. Officers removed and handcuffed the four occupants from the vehicle. The car’s three passengers were released after police concluded that the presumed driver, the Roselle man, was intoxicated.
Police took the accused driver into custody and booked him at Garwood Police headquarters. Officers released him after he posted bond, which had been set at $25,000.
Field sobriety tests are often admitted into evidence in court to substantiate DWI charges. However, these tests are often unreliable, and officers may read certain symptoms as confirmation of intoxication when they could be the result anxiety or certain medical conditions such as speech problems or mobility issues like poor balance.
People accused of DWI, particularly when it is added to another charge, may expect long sentences in jail, high fines and other penalties. DWI defense attorneys may move to dismiss evidence such as unreliable field sobriety tests, which may result in prosecutors agreeing to lesser charges.
Source: NJ.com, “Roselle man charged with DWI by Garwood Police following chase“, Barbara Rybolt, November 14, 2014
