Please like, subscribe, and consider supporting our channel. The full raw, uncensored, no narrations, no captions, and an edited version of this body cam footage can be found in the description below. Please consider joining our Patreon. Subscriptions and donations will be used to acquire more public footage related to law enforcement activities. It really helps us do original fulllength reporting like this. Sharing this video serves a compelling public interest because it is intended to illustrate the consequences of driving under the influence and discourage others doing so. Defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty. Thank you all for the support. >> I just checked the tank to make sure nobody was hiding in there. >> Yeah, I checked. A big old traffic car up there. >> No, someone saw somebody running down the street. So >> down Oh, down Oak. >> Yeah. Uh Mitchell. >> Mitchell. >> Yeah. >> Probably went that way cuz I came around the back door and circled around. I didn't see anything. >> Like as soon as you heard it. >> Uh pretty much. Yeah, pretty quickly. >> All right. >> Did you see anybody? I'm trying to remember now. >> Was anybody coming down the street? Do you have your dad? >> My dad's unfortunately not on right now. >> Around 10:49 p.m. on July 22nd, 2024, officers with the Little Silver Police Department were dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving a white 2017 Mercedes GLE that had struck a pole on Mitchell Place near Oaks Road. Sergeant Steven Sheir with the Little Silver Police Department arrived on scene around 10:51 p.m. He observed that the Mercedes had sustained severe front-end damages and there was airbag deployment inside the vehicle. He made contact with the residents who lived near the crash scene and they informed him that the driver of the vehicle had fled the scene. All right. Heat. Heat. You got an extra flashlight. Mine [ __ ] just died. And >> take five. >> I have like five and I don't know where any of them are. >> Um I was just going to keep looking for this chick. Yeah, she might have went that way cuz the guy said at this house here said he came out the front door and didn't see anybody. >> Yeah, I'll keep looking around. But >> yeah, the lady on uh she was up here. She said she had somebody cross. >> All right, >> I'll thanks Hey, cheer. >> All right. Yeah. See, you can get a phone number for the the person, their parents, on anybody >> cuz They're looking to see what they have. >> Yeah, they crushed this pole here. >> Great. What do you want me to? >> No, that's it's actually okay. >> Okay. >> Um, I'll give you the poll number on the phone with you. Bravo Tango 540 Lima Sierra Bravo. Actually, you know what? Yeah. Hit uh JCP now. Or who wants this poll? Uh, >> yeah. It hit. It's cracked. It's going to be need to be replaced. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thanks. >> All right. >> Yeah. It's going to have to be replaced. >> It's got to be replaced. >> Yeah. It's It's like splintered down the middle here. >> I bet you if these if it wasn't being held up, it'd be it would fall. >> This guy uh he hit that in a pretty good place. >> Oh, yeah. >> And there you know what? There are no skid marks. >> No skid marks. Those ski marks on the lawn. >> Uh, crazy. Yeah. >> Right into the hole [music] down here. >> Oh yeah. You don't realize >> I think they've entered your car, right? >> What? >> They've entered your cars here a few times, right? >> Yeah. Yeah, occasionally. >> They never They never got it cuz we, >> you know, they the keys weren't in. >> You're smart enough. >> I mean, you I don't know if you were here a couple years ago when there's two Range Rovers drove down here and then they went over to Rumson Country Club and stole a car and then But I was like, "Oh my gosh, two Range Rovers zipping down our road, not realizing it doesn't end the way they want it to." >> Yeah, they they crash them all the time. They don't care. >> Yeah. All it is I mean to to track a phone call >> you can't imagine >> you're hiding. >> [music] >> Is that She's running. >> How much your 20? >> Excuse me. 42. I report on the counter. She's running in the bush. >> Running in the bushes. 410 Rumson Road. >> Ma'am, get get over here now. Get over here now. >> 410 Romson Road. I'll be out with her. >> I got that. 410 Rson. >> What's going on? >> I'm sorry. I don't know. >> Come over here. >> I [ __ ] up my life. >> Take Take a seat on the front of my bumper and we'll talk. >> You'll never come on. What? What's going on? Put here. Put your bag down. >> I'm a mom. >> Okay. >> I'm going for a divorce. >> Okay. >> And I [ __ ] up my life really bad. >> Okay. >> What? All right. Just try and catch your breath here. Okay. What's your name? >> What? >> You all right? >> No. I [ __ ] up my life really bad. >> Are you injured? I'll start with that. Yeah, I'm not injured. I just ruined my life. >> You crashed the car? >> I ruined my life. >> Ma'am, stand up for me. >> And I only left because nobody was injured. >> Okay. Are you injured? >> No. Okay. Let's start with that. Stand up. >> I made I told him nobody was injured. And I said I made sure I said no one's injured. So, I'm going to go because I don't want the car to explode. >> Okay. >> And he's like, "Okay, go." >> All right. You want to stand up for me? >> Yeah. >> You're not hurt? >> No, I'm not hurt. >> Okay. I just I'm I know this is the end of my life. >> What's What's the end of your life? >> Because because I lost my car and I just started walking aimlessly in circles thinking how this is ruining my leg, my how am I going to take care of my kids? >> How old are you? >> 20. I'm not old. I'm 42 years old. >> Okay. And how old are your kids? >> I have two kids that live with me full time. Patrolman Andrew White was patrolling the surrounding streets looking for the suspect and he eventually located the suspect in front of her residence in Rumson Road. Sergeant Scar also headed over as patrolman White made contact with the suspect. The woman was identified as Melissa and she told the officers that she was going through a divorce and that she had been with her friend earlier that evening. She denied consuming any alcohol after the crash, but admitted to consuming alcohol earlier that evening. Based on their suspicion of impairment, Melissa was asked to perform field sobriety exercises. >> Yeah. Take a breath. >> Are you okay? >> Have a seat on the little rock wall there. Have a seat on the little rock wall right there. You want to start? No. Oh my god. My life. >> Hey, course. We're out with that driver. Can you just have Rumson stand by with the vehicle until the tow gets there, please? >> No, nobody else jump. >> What's your name? Let's start with that. >> Oh my god. >> What's your name? >> Um, so I ruin my whole entire life. >> You didn't ruin anything. How What's your name? >> Melissa. >> Melissa. Okay. Where are you from? >> I'm from Middletown. >> Okay. Okay. You can't believe. >> Okay. What are you >> Monday night? >> Where were you coming from tonight? >> My life. Where you coming from tonight? >> Where are you coming from tonight? I was I was dropping my friend off in bedding and then I was going to pick up my kids in Long Branch and I was on the phone it >> okay >> and I don't take that ever and it was instead of being a straight 35 to my house it was a bend wasn't paying attention on the phone and I wasn't paying attention and I was speeding. >> Okay. >> And in a matter of probably 5 minutes I ruined my >> You didn't ruin anything. It's a car accident. Okay. It's a car. Do you have insurance? >> I do. >> Okay, then that's covered, right? Right. >> No. >> Do you work? >> No. >> You don't work? >> I'm going through a divorce. >> Okay. >> I don't work right now. >> Okay. Where were you be before you dropped your friend off in Red Bank? >> At my friend's house in Red Bank. >> You were at her her house or his house? >> Um my girlfriend's house. >> Okay. What's her name? >> Who's also going through a divorce? Marissa. And my ex is a long branch and I've been on the phone with him the whole time, which probably was a mistake. Okay. I was not paying attention. >> Where you at? You you were at your friend Marissa's house. Where where in Redbank does she live? >> Um the street that is like I think it's French Street. >> Okay. >> And then I was on the phone with my ex and I was saying he said, "Oh, >> where's your kids in Long Branch?" >> Yep. And he was like >> at his house. >> Yep. And he was like, "Oh, you should I I don't want to take them. Can I pick them up? Pick them up." And I said, "Oh, but I'm like so close to home. I could just go straight down 35 to Middletown." >> Mhm. And he's like, "Oh, well, pick them up cuz I have work." And so I was like talking to him, speeding. Yeah. Going away. I don't know. >> Mhm. >> And I'm like, and I'm like in my mind. I'm like, "This is my life. I can't believe this is my life." On a Monday night, like this is not how I thought my life would be. We just got divorced. We sold our house in Middletown and I lived in a townhouse. He moved to Long Drive. >> Okay. >> And um it's like a really bad time in my life. >> Okay. And I always feared this because I heard this happening to people >> when they got divorced and now >> what happened >> heard things like when people get divorced bad things happen. I feel like they just >> That's not true. >> End up not being as smart. >> Okay. How much did you have to drink at your friend's house? >> Um I had two drinks but I also had a lot to eat. I had a chicken fingers, French fries, Caesar salad. >> Okay. What you had to drink? >> How much I had to drink? >> What? >> Oh, I had two mixed drinks that she made. Okay. All right. >> And you went you were at her house. Are you guys out at the bar or restaurants or anything or just her house drinking? >> Her house. >> And then you were going to Long Branch >> to pick my pick up. >> I never go that way. I always go down 35. And of course, I was going there and I put it in my GPS, but as I was in my GPS, like he was like arguing with me on the phone, so I wasn't paying attention. >> Okay. >> And I fear like I honestly >> Was he on the phone when you hit the pole? like he was like calling me. >> Okay. >> So, >> do you know what happened? >> Yeah. >> What happened? >> I wasn't I was speeding and I wasn't paying attention. >> And then what happened? >> And then I like I obviously and but I made sure I did not hit anybody. Nobody was injured. And I >> You made sure. How did you make sure? >> Because I talked to this neighbor and I >> Which neighbor? >> Some guy who's out there and I said, "Oh my god, I'm I talked to him for a long really long time. He like I'm feeling he probably called the cops because >> Why didn't you call the cops? >> Because I thought he was. Yeah. He like >> Why didn't you stay there then? >> Because I said, "Oh my god, my life is over. I can't stop." >> Where were you running too? >> Nowhere. I wasn't walking anywhere. I was still on my own. I wasn't even >> Are you hurt? >> No, I don't think so. >> Are you >> I'm like in shock. >> Okay. >> I don't think I'm >> besides like shooken up. >> The neighbor I said nobody's hurt, right? Nobody else hit my I didn't hit anybody and I don't think anybody got hurt. No one in his house was this far back. And I said I told him I said you you're going to call the cops. I said I'm I feel so bad. I'm so sorry I did this. I'm so thankful I didn't hit anybody and nobody got hurt. He said yeah. Nobody got hurt. And he said he was going to call the cops and I said I just need to freeze. I just need to walk. And then he just let me walk. >> Hey, are we doing SFST? >> Oh my god. I'm sorry. >> Do me a favor. Stand up. >> Stand up for me. >> Okay. I'm going to take like a DWI test. >> Yeah. Have a seat on my bumper right here. >> Oh my god. I can't believe you're doing this. Okay. Do >> you wear glasses or contacts? >> No. >> Let me just see the flash. I'm sorry. >> My heart's pounding. >> Take a take a breath. Uh, yeah, please. Take a breath. Besides for the couple of drinks, right? Do you take any medication? >> No. >> Not at all. You take anything else tonight that affect your driving? >> No. >> Any other substances? Any drugs? Any marijuana? >> Nothing. >> Nothing. Sergeant Sir started with the horizontal gaze misdiagnosis HGN test. The second exercise was the walk and turn test and it was administered by patrolman white. During the walk and turn test, Melissa failed to touch heel to toe on each step and turned improperly. The final exercise was the one leg stand test and Melissa failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and put her foot down before the test was complete. Easy enough. No. Uh, you on no medication at all? >> No. >> Okay. Well, see my pen here? Mhm. >> What color is it? >> It is. >> Okay. Do you wear contacts or glasses? >> No. >> Okay. With your eyes and your eyes only. I want you to follow my pen. All right. Do not move your head. Just your eyes. Do you understand my instructions? >> Yeah. >> Perfect. Just your eyes, man. Okay. Now you have My heart's like beauty. >> It's okay. It's okay. I take it all in consideration. >> I keep looking at the pen. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Keep looking at the pen. >> Just the pen. >> Not my eyes. Just the pen. All right. All right, last one. Okay, we're going to go up one more time. After you hit the pole and ran away, right? >> I didn't run away. >> You left. You left. Okay. >> Did you drink anything else? >> No. >> No. Nothing else? >> Oh, no. >> Okay. Was there any alcohol in the car? >> No. I even told the the guy at the guy that came out that lived there said, "You're going to take you're going to call M1." I said, "Thank God. No one got hurt. I'm okay. I I need to Where are you going?" nowhere. I was calling my ex. I said, "Oh my god, I was just talking to him and just talking to him." I said, "You're never going to believe what happened." I said, "I don't I can't even explain this." So, Monday night, I just was talking to my ex and I said, and he's like, >> "Hey, you're smart." >> Trying and I was like, "Please help me. Come tell me too. I don't even know if the the owner of the house." >> He's going to just explain some next thing. >> I was just talking to my ex and the owner of the house like was going to call my >> You stay right there. All right. >> I'm going to run you through a couple tests. All right. So, I actually didn't even drink them. I just >> So, the first test I'm going to run you through, all right, it's called the walk and turn. All right. So, what I want you to do right now, all right, I want you to picture a straight imaginary line in front of you. All right? I want you to take your left foot, put that line, put that foot on the line. >> Okay? >> Take your right heel and touch it to your left toes with your hands down at your side. You can get into that position now. >> Do you understand? All right. You can get into that starting position. And if this makes any account, I cut two drinks, but I'm getting a divorce. His wife is dying. >> Ma'am, do you understand the instructions? >> I do. >> Then you can get into the starting position. >> Okay. >> Right here, like this. >> Do you want me to reexplain it? >> Um, no. I'm going to stand like this and I'm going to get in the left position and put my hands my fingers are like this. My fingers down here like that. >> You're going to have your left foot on the line with your right heel touching your left toes. >> Okay? >> Left foot, right heel, right heel touching your left toes. Okay, >> with your hands down at your side, you can get into that starting position. >> And then I just keep walking forward from one in front of the other. >> Ma'am, just >> see how my feet are, my hands are my right heel is touching my left toes. Do you understand? >> Yes. >> All right. You can get into that starting position >> and then just keep walking. >> Just wait for further instruction. Okay. >> All right. >> I'm sorry. >> You can you can get >> My knife is just like flashing before me. >> Okay. So again, your right heel is going to touch your left toes. >> Yeah. >> All right. Yeah. I'm already [ __ ] I'm already [ __ ] it up. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm [ __ ] up. My right heel is going to touch my left toe. >> Hands down. Hands down at your side. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. >> Nope. Don't Don't start yet. >> Just get into that starting position for me. All right. >> I'm sorry. >> Right heel touching your left toes. Hands down at your side. All right. Do not begin until I tell you to. >> Okay. I'm so sorry. >> When I tell you to, you will take nine heel to toe steps like so. Okay. Head will be down. Count out loud. One, two, three. Hands down at your side the whole time. On your ninth step. I'm doing three for an example. You will do nine. >> Can you get back into the starting position, please? >> Yeah. On your ninth step, you will take your right foot off of the line and take a few shuffle steps and continue back counting out loud. >> One, two, and so on. Okay. Can you get back into the conversation, please? >> My life is just like flashing before my eyes. >> Okay. I'm 59. >> I followed your instructions. I'm sorry. While again, while you're walking, heel to toe, your head will be looking down, arms down at your side, counting out loud. >> Okay. >> Do you understand the instructions? Would you like me to show you again? >> No, I'm okay. >> You sure? >> Yes. >> Okay. When you're ready, you can begin the test. >> Okay. This is my life or death here. >> Okay. I do nine. So this is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 nine. Right now do I turn to the left or the right? >> Whichever. >> Oh my god. My leg is definitely >> Take take your back foot off and spin around. >> Do I turn to the left? >> And then I do not again. >> Yep. >> I'm so sorry. 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> 7 8 9 I'm sorry my life or death is in this position. It's killing me. >> Okay, the next step. >> The next step, all right, is going to be another test. All right, it's going to be a 6 in hold. All right, and I'm going to demonstrate it for you. Okay, do not begin until I tell you to. All right, I'm going to put you in a starting position. Okay, like the like the previous test, don't start until instructed. Okay, right now I want you to start by putting your heels together and your toes together with your hands down at your side. Do not move until I tell you to. Do you understand? >> Yeah. >> Okay. This test is going to be a 6-in heel raise. You can pick either foot, okay, of your choosing. All right. While looking down, you're going to take your heel and place it approximately 6 in or a soda can off the ground while looking down with your hands on your side and count out loud. 1,001 1,002 1,003 and so on until I tell you stop. Do you understand the instructions? >> Yes, I do. >> Okay. >> Now, should I use my >> Whichever >> dominant foot or >> whichever foot you are comfortable with. Do you understand the instructions? Yes, I do. >> Do you wish for any instructions to be repeated? >> No. >> You may begin the test. >> I show you I'm left-handed. Should I use my left foot? >> Whichever you prefer. 1,00 1,002 1,003 100,004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1,101,234 >> Just you can continue. Yep. >> 1,45 Oh my god, I'm so nervous. Okay, let me start again. 1,6789 ma'am. You're good. You can put it down. Thank you. >> This is my life. Okay. >> Like I'm like I'm just nervous. >> Okay. Just do me a favor real quick. Just turn around. based on the motor vehicle accident, her admission to operating the motor vehicle, her admission to consuming alcohol earlier, and her inability to adequately perform the field sobriety exercises. Melissa was placed under arrest. After she was placed under arrest, her vehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold according to John's law. Patrolman White transported Melissa to the Little Silver Police Department for further processing. Put your hands on >> Oh my god. >> Just put your hands on the bumper for me. Just turn around, please. >> Oh my god. >> Put your hands on the bumper, >> ma'am. Just turn around, please. >> That's why you're thinking. >> Just turn around, please. All right. >> Put your hands behind your back. >> Am I being drunk? >> Am I having >> I don't know. Am I being drunk? I'm just very nervous. >> And you're under arrest. >> Oh my god. I can't believe this is my life. Did I I failed the test? >> Yeah. >> But I have nothing in my pocket. Oh my god. I can't believe this is my life right now. >> Did I I failed the test? I didn't see it. >> Or is it because >> you have nothing in your pockets? >> I I don't. >> Okay. >> Did you drop anything along the way? >> Um not that I know of. Headquarters time stamp female 41. I swear to God, I only had two things. >> Okay, we're just going to take a walk back to my car here. >> Oh my god. >> Are your keys in here? Are they still in the car? >> Oh my god, my keys are in my purse. >> Give me one second. >> But did I failed the test? >> We'll explain it all for you. All right, you take a seat and slide up in there. Oh my god. >> Just give me one second. Okay, I'll turn the air on and we'll be right back. >> No key. >> I don't see it. >> All right. Might still be in the car. >> I didn't see you in the car. Put the light on you. cuz she hit the pole so hard that the onoff button for the Mercedes >> is just crushed >> on the floor. >> Nice. >> Yeah. I didn't I don't see a key in there. >> You want me to have Michelle update Rumson? It's going to be John 12. I mean, it's >> I'll be there >> total anyway, but >> I'm going to swing over to the car. >> Okay. >> Um, and I'm going to call out. >> Do you have one? >> Yep. >> All right. >> Sounds good. Headquarters 54 going to be transporting one female 41 from my current location 103. Starting mileage is going to be 86651. Camera's on. >> Yes, ma'am. >> I'm sorry to bother you, but um are you going to give me a breathalyzer? >> Yeah. So, we'll go over everything at the station. All right. >> Because can I just I don't know if I'm allowed to like say anything, but can you give me a breathalyzer? >> We can. Um >> because I >> We'll go over all that when we get back to our police department. I think I'm more like nervous than than like drunk >> right right now. I do just want to make you aware of your rights. All right. You do have the right to remain silent. Everything you can everything you say can be held in the law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one will be appointed to you. You understand your rights? >> Do you understand your rights? >> Yeah. >> Okay. I feel like I would like do better with the breathalyzer than like the test. >> So, since you're aware of your rights, okay, we will give you the opportunity to either take the breathalyzer test or refuse it. Okay, you have that right. >> Did I like fail like miserably on the test? Did I like do really bad on the test? [crying] Oh, am I causing a problem? >> I'm sorry. >> Am I causing a problem? >> No, you're gone. At the station, she was read the standard statement for motor vehicle operators and she agreed to submit breath samples. Her alco test results indicated a back of 0.16% comma, which was double the legal limit of 0.08%. >> Am I closing a scene? >> No, nobody's back here. There's no scene. It's just you and I back here right now. Okay. Where are your shoes? Are they back at the >> I don't know. >> Okay. All right. Let's just take a step out. Okay. Let's get you inside. We can get >> Oh my god. >> I'm sorry. >> All right. We're going to take a walk this way. Okay. >> Did I like >> right up the ramp here? Are your shoes back at with your car? >> Are your shoes back at your car? >> I took my shoes off. Yeah. >> Okay. We're going to go up those steps. >> Or two. Can you just look for her shoes in the area of the grass? >> It doesn't My leg is over. We're going to walk down to the end of this hallway. >> Yeah, I'll take a look. >> To the left here. >> The craziest thing is >> And then right in here, we're going to take a seat on the bench. >> Breath. Cuz I actually only had two drinks. I just can't function cuz I'm I'm like my leg is my stomach. >> Can I see your wrist? >> Yes. I actually would rather breath with her because I feel like I can't even think to have the >> After they were finished processing Melissa, she was released to a sober adult pending her court appearance after he signed the potential liability warning on Melissa's behalf. Patrolman White issued Melissa the following citations. Operating under the influence, careless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and failure to report accident. I'd rather have my best leg because I don't even I think I'm that drunk. I just can't function all the time. >> Okay. >> I don't know if that's right. I just my life is just married and have a husband. I'm having my life. So