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Around 4:00 a.m. on March 25th, 2023, officers with the Chattam Township Police Department were dispatched to a report of a black Jeep on the wrong side of the roadway on Southern Boulevard by Shan Pike Road on called 911 and reported it to the Morris County Communications Center. Around 4:03 a.m., Sergeant Scott Herchuk located a black 2021 Jeep Cherokee that was facing north in the southbound lane of Southern Boulevard. The gear was not in park and the driver was asleep behind the wheel of her vehicle. Sergeant Herchuk made numerous attempts at knocking on her window before she finally awakened. He advised her to put the vehicle in park and she complied. >> No, you're not. You're moving. Put your foot on the brake. Put your foot on the brake. Put the car in park. >> Thank you. [music] Sorry. >> You have your license? Leave it in park. Leave it in park. All right. And have your license. We're good. Thank you. Where you coming from? I was coming from Madison. I'm sorry. I'm looking for my license. Yeah, I have it. Please. How much did you have to drink tonight? >> Probably too much. >> Okay. All right. Do me a favor. Turn the car off. Put the bag on your seat. step on out. >> The driver, later identified as Melissa, was asked for her documents. She was not immediately able to locate her documents, and she exhibited indicators of impairment. When Sergeant Herick asked her how much she had to drink, she responded by saying, "Probably too much." She would later admit to consuming multiple beers earlier that evening. Patrolman James Latos arrived on scene to assist. Around this time, and based on their suspicion of impairment, Melissa was asked to exit the vehicle, perform field sobriety exercises. All right. Come to the back of the car. Stand right there. All right. >> Yeah. Where's your one? How you doing tonight, man? We >> do some tests, right? >> You got any issues with your eyes, contact, anything like that? >> No. >> No. Okay. What I want you to do is I want you to look at the tip of my pen and just follow with your eyes. Right. >> The Troman Leto started with the horizontal gaze nestagmus HGN test. The second exercise was the walk and turn test. During the walk and turn test, Melissa and did not touch heel to toe on each step, failed to keep her arms at her sides, and took an incorrect number of steps when returning to the starting position. The third exercise was the one leg stand test. During the one leg stand test, Melissa failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and put her foot down before the test was complete. Patrolman Lados offered her an opportunity to attempt the test again. But her second attempt was also unsuccessful. >> Not your head, just your eyes. Okay. >> Yep. >> You understand? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Ready? >> Yep. >> Nope. Not your head. >> Oh, let's try again. Ready? Just eyes. Just try not to move your head. Okay. >> Okay. Right. Just follow the tip of the P. 31 now. >> Next thing we're going to do is a walk and turn. All right. I'm going to tell you what to do. I'll describe it. I'll do it for you, but just you stay here. All right. >> Yep. >> You understand? >> Yep. >> All right. So, you're going to start like this. You're going to put your right foot in front of your left. Just wait till I'm done then. >> Yep. >> All right. You're going to walk nine steps forward. You're going to take a small turn. And then you're going to take nine steps back. I want you to keep your hands at your side through the entire test. All right. Okay. >> I'm going to demonstrate and then you can do it. Okay. >> Nine steps forward and nine steps back. >> Yep. Just watch. Okay. Yep. >> Be 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 small turn. Nine steps back. >> Okay. Do you understand the test? >> Yes. >> Okay. You ready to try it? >> Yes. >> All right. Put your put your uh right foot in front of your left and then you can start the test. >> Ready? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 >> All right, just stop. All right, next we're going to do is going to one leg stand. Okay. >> Okay, >> I'll demonstrate that and I'll explain it again. >> Yes. >> All right. And then you can do it. Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. So, either leg you want, you're going to raise 6 in off the ground. >> Don't do it yet. Just listen. >> No, I'm just I'm preparing. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> And then you're going to have your toes pointed up. Okay. >> I want you to keep your hands at your sides during the entire time. >> And I want you to count 1 1 2 100 3 100 until I tell you stop. Do >> you understand? >> On one leg. One,000. Yep. >> Yep. One leg. Foot 6 in off the ground. Toes pointed up. Okay. Okay. Ready? Okay. >> 1 1,000. Wait, >> look. Hold on. Ready? I'll demonstrate again. Look at my feet. Ready? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Like that. >> 1 100 1,000 2 100 3 100 4 100 >> Can you count up? 8 1,00 9 1,000 10 100 11 100 1,000 12,000 13 1,000 14 1,000 15,000 16 1,000 70,000 18,000 19,000 >> You can just keep your hands at your sides like I said. Continue to count though. >> 21,000 2100 21. >> Put your foot down. Do you want to try that again? >> Sure. >> Do Do you understand? Hands at your side. >> Okay. >> And then 1 1,00 2 1 Count loud. Okay, >> I'll do it again. Okay. >> All right. Whenever you're ready. >> Ready? >> Sure. >> Wait. Hold on. >> Okay. >> 1 1 2 100 3 100 4 100 5 100 6 100 7 100 8 100 >> Okay. All right. >> I'll do it again. >> No, that's okay, ma'am. You don't have to. Based on her falling asleep behind the wheel of her vehicle, the odor of alcohol, and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, Melissa was placed under arrest. After she was placed under arrest, Lieutenant Heather Glolick with the Morris Township Police Department was called on scene to conduct a search before placing Melissa inside the patrol car. Her vehicle was impounded by TJ Towing for a 12-hour hold. According to John's law, patrolman Latos transported Melissa to the Chattam Township Police Department for further processing. >> All right, man. Just turn around. Turn around. Your hands behind your back. You're going to be placed under arrest. All right. >> You got anything on you? >> Anything on you that's going to hurt me? >> Nothing. Just give me a minute. >> What did I do? >> Huh? >> What did I do? >> You didn't do very well. also duty. >> You said that someone else has a female township. I don't know if they're still there. I'm trying to see You have a purse in the in the car? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, we got a purse. What are the keys that were in the cup holder? Purse. >> Okay. >> I don't know if they're house keys or not. >> Yeah, they're is the the fob. >> Okay. >> Is there anything else that >> cell phone >> other than the purse, which I believe your cell phone's probably in there? >> Okay. Is there anything else in the car that you need tonight? Um, can I just look or I think it's the >> It's the phone and the >> phone in your bag. >> Phone in your bag. >> Um, I can't believe. All right. Why don't you come on over to my car over here? Just wait over by my car here. So, we get you out of the road a little bit. You can hang out right here for now if you want. Is this going to be published in like the papers or something? >> Paper. >> I can't It's not. It definitely is. >> What's that? >> It definitely is. >> Definitely is what? >> Going to be publishing the papers. >> No, >> it's not. >> No paper. No. >> I wasn't trying to harm anyone. >> I understand. So, put this right here for now. Okay. So, there's it looks like house keys, your wallet's in there. All right. I don't know if the cell phone was in there. >> Okay. >> If it's not in here, where would it be? >> Um, it was in the center console, I think. >> I don't see something in here. >> Yeah, there's not. [ __ ] Where you headed to? Um, >> where do you live? >> Where's that? >> Millington. >> Millington. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Where were you coming from? >> Um, Madison. >> Okay. Just wondering cuz you're going this way. >> Yeah. >> Millington's. >> I know. I was supposed to >> Okay. And what's your name? >> Melissa. >> What's your last name? your last name. >> I'm not I can't look at your license. I was just asking. >> Yeah, I'm trying to decide which one to give you. Was I just got I was married. >> Okay. >> Um I'm waiting for my new one in the mail. My >> my license that I have now is Spettton. Okay. >> I don't really want to tarnish my new name. >> Got it. >> Yeah. You could see >> you're you're going to be under arrest. Okay. We're going to go back to the police station. We got to do some repair little paperwork and then have somebody try to come pick you up. >> Okay. >> Were they sipping more stuff? I didn't hear. Um, >> did they say they have one or no? >> Uh, they're double checking now. >> They don't know. >> Is my name? >> I don't know what time the lieutenant gets off. >> Oh, okay. Is your name What? >> And you always like searchable under this >> for being arrested? >> Yeah. I don't think so. >> I think that's fine. The lieutenant from is able to assist. She's going to respond. >> She come right to the scene. We're at Southern and she'll see >> her know you're coming from Madison, you said. >> Yeah. I feel terrible. Um, so when they get to the station, I have to call someone. >> Yeah, but we have to do some tests first and some paperwork and then you can call somebody when we're all done. Then they'll come pick you up if they want. >> My mom >> who whoever is an adult, I mean family member. [ __ ] How old are you? You 20? >> 31. >> Not 31. Okay. >> Yeah. So, you know, an adult going to kill me. >> Car registered to you? >> Sorry. >> Is the car registered to you? >> The car ride is >> Is it registered? >> Oh, yes. >> Do you have your insurance and stuff in the in your bag? Um, not in my bag, but I think in the car >> in the >> in the um >> glove box. >> Okay, promise it's my car. [ __ ] It's going to help me. I um I don't know nothing nice >> we'll get matters now so I won't say anything but it's fine I I didn't mean any harm 10 minutes >> that's fine I'm sure you want >> I I just can't believe um closer my arms like >> well someone called saying you're >> someone called and said you're on the wrong side of the road and your car's on the wrong side of the road. >> I have a car >> in the intersection here. So >> where you coming from tonight? >> That thing anywhere bar? Um, we were out, we came back to medicine, but we were not there drinking. We were in Bridgewater and we got a ride back there and then I was just trying to get home. >> Bridgewater. >> Yeah. Reload. >> Yeah. >> Is that what the brick bed is? >> Probably. >> Yeah. And um we got an a ride back and then >> Were you drinking tonight? Vodka. >> Just beers. Beers. >> Just beers. >> Just beers. >> And I needed a point to just drink beers. And it wasn't >> How many? >> It was a lot. >> A lot of beers. >> Yeah. You mean I want >> I won't lie about that, but it was life like all the way through >> 6 to 10 around that range. >> Around that range. >> Um, what's happening to me? >> You're going to get processed at the police station and then released and then you're going to get a court date and you're going to have to go to court. >> Am I going to get my name publishing in newspaper? >> No, we're not. I'm not publishing your name anywhere. Uh, so I don't know what else will happen, but I I don't think your name's getting published anywhere. >> You're going to get a ticket for drunk driving. >> Yeah, you're going to have to go to court. >> Give me a ticket. Let me go to court. So mortified. >> My husband is >> Nobody's He's going to murder me. >> I don't think that's going to happen. >> He might murder me if I'm dead. You guys will be at the crime scene of Mike. of my death. >> I'm just saying. >> I'm I'm joking, but I'm not. But I'm just trying to like understand what I'm looking at. >> A court date. You got to go to court and they'll figure it out there. >> It's not going to be in the newspaper. >> I don't control the newspaper. I'm not controlling the newspaper. I'm telling you, I'm not writing it. >> The police. >> We're the police. >> We arrest. We don't write the papers. But you know, >> I don't think anybody reasoned. >> Yeah, I don't think so. >> I saw my ex got a DUI. Like, >> yeah. And I stopped it, so I know that it gets published. Okay. Well, >> here is all. >> Okay. >> [ __ ] >> I'm just going to get on my back. Heat. Heat. It's all right. >> Is it? >> That happens. right here. Well, someone will be here shortly and then headquarters, do some paperwork, finish the processing, make a phone call. All right. This is going to in the paper. >> I can't promise, but we haven't put anything in the paper in a while. >> You know, I didn't like mean any harm, right? >> Nope. >> It's just like >> That's why I say it happens. >> No, but it happens, but it's not okay. But >> as long as you realize that, right? >> I do. I totally do. I just like I feel terrible. >> Guy from Duncan was over there, I think. >> The car's locked. >> Yeah. says that my car smells like a tip. >> Yep. Definitely smells [laughter] better than a lot of people's car. >> Why does this >> I'll give you that much. You tell me. >> I didn't even like it for you. >> Air freshener. >> I was just wondering if you >> No, it does. >> Why? >> I don't know. >> I literally want to trade it in. I don't know. >> You eat a lot of fish. >> Hi everybody. >> How you doing? >> Hi man. How are you? >> Hi. Hi. Lieutenant Glow Glitch. Come on over here for me real quick. >> I'm just going to search you. All right. Do you have anything in your pocket that's going to stick or hurt me or anything like that? >> Nope. That's not the right answer. >> Okay. Do you have any needles? Knives? Bobby pins? >> Okay. Nothing. All right. Turn off for me. >> You can take that back if you want. I'm just going to step you down here and I'm going to lean against the step down. Step down. There you go. >> Just here. There you go. All right. Can you spread your legs for me apart, please? All right. Do you have anything in any of your pockets? >> No. >> You do not sound sure about that answer. >> I was wondering where my phone was, but they have >> All right. Only thing. >> All right. That makes me feel a little bit better. Communication is key. You can like it. And you can put your hands together a little bit so they're not as uncomfortable. There you go. >> Uncomfortable. I get it. Catch it. You're welcome, Sergeant. >> Right here. >> You mind just buckling her so I don't have to reach in there? >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> All right. Turn and put your butt in first. It makes it easier to sit down so you don't hurt yourself. >> There's toe. And then I'm going to lean across and I'm going to drive >> if you can get it. I mean, we're right down the road. >> Interesting seat belt. >> All right. Good luck. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. What's Uh, I don't know. We can talk about that once we get back to the police station. 451 19 County. Don't be scared. It's all right. Everything will be fine. >> Be transporting 101, one adult female. Sorry. Miles 15151.1. >> [clears throat] >> 35 pressure. Heat. Heat. Heat up here. Heat. Heat. 459 county ending miles 1515 1.9 >> DJ Hey guys, G&J's got the car. I'll be clear. I got rainbow here. All right, just watch. There's a curb here. Can help you. Good. See the curve? Got it. All right. Walk right up to that officer. The light will turn off. Um, you want to >> Which hand do you write with >> your righty? Heat. Heat. [snorts] Oh, heat. Actually, Chris, can you do me a favor? >> Yep. >> Right in my car on the in the front passenger seat on top there's my ticket book. >> Can you grab that? It's either on top or like in the front little >> You'll see the ticket book. >> Okay. >> Just grab the most recent one. How about it? I'm just going to go in your purse and get your ID. Okay. Is it in your little purse here? You you find it for me. >> Just your driver's license. >> My phone. >> Yeah, we have that. my ID and it's in >> Okay. It's in like a case. >> Got it. >> In the back section here. >> Oh, yeah. It is. In the meantime, I'm going to read you your Miranda rights. Okay. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions and to have him him/ her present during the questioning. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, then one will be appointed to you to represent you for any questioning if you wish. If you decide to make a statement or answer any questions without a lawyer present, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time. You will also have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to a lawyer. I have read you understand the right says I'm reading to you. Okay. So, we're going to go through one by one. All right. You're going to initial each one. You can read them all yourself and then you're going to sign for them there. Okay. over here. I'll get you a top. >> Did you lock it back up or No. >> No. I need >> Yeah. Yeah. to figure that out. Yeah. April 5th. >> April 5th. >> You know what time you came in? 3 minutes ago. Here's her. She a great dancer to talk. What's her first name again? >> Melissa. >> Okay. And today is now >> 24th. >> Today's the 25th. >> 25th. >> 25th. >> I think it's the 24th. 25th. I was wrong. Make sure all the screws here. Oh my gosh. Why can't I get in here? You said your your last name just changed. It's not this one. You just get married recently or Okay. So, what's your >> Can you just use that one? I don't want to use it. >> Yeah, but if it's your legal name now, we have to use it. What's on your Did you get a new driver's license? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> W A W A TS. >> Is that going? >> It's not. Don't worry about the papers. What if it's is >> there was a lot. >> Yeah. Oops. Sorry. Yeah. >> When you enter the time in the alpha test, you got to do an hour before >> the time that's the time that's going to be listed there. It's an hour before >> for the time of arrest me. >> Yeah. Everything's going to be >> So instead of 4 something, it'll be 3 something. >> Yeah. Okay. It's all on the uh that piece of paper hanging up. >> 440 >> 440. All right. Are you sick at all? sick illness. No. Okay. Are you under the care of a doctor? >> Put the right time in. >> Uh you taking any any medications? >> Nothing else? >> No. Okay. Yeah. >> Do you have diabetes? >> Are you injured at all? All right. Uh, what kind of alcohol did you drink tonight? >> Beer. >> Beer. >> Where? >> Say drenol. >> Dr. Um, and about how many beers? >> Six. >> Five. >> Five. Where is my >> You said six. You said six to 10 out there. That's why we were just trying to figure it. >> Probably like five when I was there. >> Five. >> Five when you were there. Anything after? >> I probably had one before. >> One before. Okay. Um and when you were having those five about how long in between each 10 minutes, 20 minutes, half an hour? >> Let's see. Yeah, it's 4:40. Like every hourish, maybe a little more hour. Okay. Um, but what time did you have your first drink? Um 8 >> 8:00 last night. >> Okay. >> And when did you have your last one? >> I'm not entirely sure. Like did the bar did the bar close when you guys were there or did you leave before the bar closed? We >> left the bar closed. >> Okay. >> Maybe 12. >> 12. Okay. >> You take any drugs tonight? >> Yeah. >> When was the last time you ate and what was it? Um, probably around 6 or 7. I had a burger. >> Burger. Okay. It's going to come out. Okay. >> It's not current. >> Okay. Um >> we're waiting. >> Is it okay? That's not what my license. >> No, but that's you changed it in the DMV, so it comes up here. >> Yeah. [snorts] Where were you born? >> What's your phone number? And you said you are married now. Okay. >> It doesn't tell me if you're married or not cuz you were saying that you had a different last name from here. That's why they know anything. >> It's under It's under Watts. >> Great. >> It has to be. That's your name. So what exactly is under that? Just a police report. >> So >> h >> I'm just asking what does that mean? >> What the police report? It's just documenting that you were arrested tonight. So when you go to court, things like that, our findings from what happened tonight. I have to put >> Yeah. Yeah. So, you're arrested right now, so you have to go to court and they'll find you guilty or not guilty. It's pretty much it. >> New Jersey, it's a traffic violation. So, you're going to get a ticket. you're going to have to go to court and the judge is going to base whatever the the punishment is off of your court date >> and like what is it most realistically you know what I mean >> that's [snorts] that's the that's the legal system that's the the court and the the prosecutors kind of >> that where's the fence of that like a ticket of what Have you had a DWI before? >> So, penalties range from just paying a fine and having points on your license to getting your license suspended. That's entirely up to the the the legal system to this part. Then it goes in the We we can't I can't tell you what the paper >> it all depends. It all depends if there's a press release, which I I don't think there will be. >> My ex all that is out of my hands. I can't tell you one way or the other for that. Great. or anything. This can't do anything. Okay. Um, one of you just mind doing like like entering a little more in here for a rest and I'll start the 20 minute observation so we can get so far. >> Yeah, you go and go out first. I'll hang out here. At the station, Melissa was read the standard statement for motor vehicle operators and she agreed to submit breath samples. Her alco test results indicated a back level of 0.22% which was almost triple the legal limit of 0.08%. After they were finished processing Melissa, she was released to her mother pending her court appearance. She signed the potential shared light warning on Melissa's behalf. Patrolman Los issued Melissa the following citations. Operating under the influence and careless driving. Court records indicate [clears throat] that on January 4th, 2024, the citation for operating under the influence was dismissed. However, she was found guilty of careless driving. As a result of being found guilty of careless driving, her license was revoked for 30 days and she had to pay a total of $240 in fines. Cell phone, watches, I got I got to put your bag out here. Okay. Yeah, we're going to start the 20 minutes. >> Yeah, I'm going to take it all. I'm just letting them take their stuff out first. There's no phone, no watches, no radio, no camera. No. Yeah, it's not like a smartwatch. No. >> How about you do this? Do you have like a smartwatch, a Fitbit? None of that stuff.