Drunk Woman WRECKS 2 Cars After Leaving Moose Lodge in Lacey Township, NJ

On November 22, 2022 around 7:37 PM PM, Officers Patrick Watkins and Dallas Gant with the Lacey Township Police Department responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident involving 2 vehicles at Lakeside Drive South and Parker Avenue. Officer Watkins initially made contact with the 22-year-old driver of the 2020 Mercedes as well as the 29-year-old driver of the 2005 Jeep Wrangler, who was identified as Brandi. Both vehicles appeared severely damaged. The driver of the Mercedes informed Officer Watkins that the passenger side of his vehicle was struck by the Jeep Wrangler at a high rate of speed as he was turning from Lakeside Driver South onto Parker Avenue.

Officer Watkins then interviewed Brandi, who informed him that she had left work at the Moose Lodge on 305 North Main Street in Forked River. As he was speaking with Brandi, he detected the odor of alcohol. He asked Brandi if she had anything to drink, and Brandi admitted to having consumed alcohol earlier that evening. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Brandi was asked to perform field sobriety exercises.

Officer Watkins started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Officer Watkins observed the lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Brandi did not touch heel-to-toe on each step and she stepped off the line several times. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and she displayed a lack of balance and failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion.

Based on the traffic accident, the odor of alcohol, her admission to consuming alcohol, and her inability to perform the field sobriety exercises in a satisfactory manner, she was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated. She was transported to the Lacey Township Police Department for further processing. At the Lacey Township Police Department, Officer Watkins read her the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators, but she refused to submit breath samples for testing. After she was processed, she was released to her neighbor pending her court appearance after she signed the Potential Liability Warning form on her behalf. Officer Watkins issued her the following summonses: Operating under the influence, reckless driving, and refusal to submit to breath testing
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