Around 12:20 AM on October 27, 2024, officers with the Berkeley Township Police Department were dispatched to the area of Chelsea Drive and Mill Creek Road on a report of a power outage. Patrolman Devon Tasso arrived on scene and observed that a 2022 Kia Forte had struck a Verizon pole and the vehicle had sustained severe damages. Patrolman Tasso located a male matching the description of the subject in front of Mill Creek Park, and he made contact with him. The subject was identifies as 51-year-old George Chidiac, the Superintendent of the Stafford Township School District.
George was transported back to the scene of the crash as the officers continued their investigation. He was asked why he left the scene of a crash, and his answers were incoherent. He told them that he was headed home after leaving the Stonefire Bar and Grill in Beachwood, and he admitted to consuming alcohol earlier that evening. A few minutes later, first responders with Berkeley Township EMS arrived on scene to evaluate him, but he declined further medical attention.
After he exited the ambulance rig, the officers continued their DWI investigation. Based on their suspicion of impairment, George was asked to perform field sobriety exercises. The first field sobriety exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, George did not touch heel-to-toe on each step and took an incorrect number of steps without turning. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, George failed to raise his foot in the proper fashion and failed to count aloud as instructed. At this point, the field sobriety exercises were terminated.
Based on the motor vehicle crash, his admission to consuming alcohol, and his inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, George was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. After he was placed under arrest and placed in the patrol car, his vehicle was impounded according to John’s Law. Patrolman Robertazzi transported George to the Berkeley Township Police Department for further processing.
At the station, the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators was read to him, and he agreed to submit breath samples. His Alcotest results indicated a BAC level of 0.172%, which was more than double the legal limit of 0.08%. After the officers were finished with processing him, he was released to his wife Jill Chidiac after she signed the Potential Liability Warning form on George’s behalf. George was cited for operating under the influence, reckless driving, and careless driving. As of December 12, 2024, his case is still pending in court.
----------------------------------------------
Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and consider supporting this channel (email us for more information). Our content is shared for educational and news gathering purposes. We are in compliance with YouTube's Fair Use Policy because we edit several long clips into a concise story. This is similar to other law enforcement channels on YouTube. All videos and case documents were obtained pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq. (P.L. 2024, c.16). Defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty.
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.
Информация по комментариям в разработке