DOVER — On Monday, May 20, at approximately 1:57 a.m., Dover Police Officer Christopher Caraig was traveling east on West Blackwell Street when he encountered a vehicle in the westbound lane with high beams on, disrupting his vision.
Behind the vehicle was a taxi cab, flashing its high-beam headlights and signaling me. I stopped my patrol vehicle and spoke with the taxi driver, who stated that the vehicle in front of him was driving erratically and “drunk.” Officer Caraig turned his patrol vehicle around and followed the car.
The vehicle continued west on West Blackwell Street towards the intersection of Randolph Avenue. The vehicle slowly turned left onto Randolph Avenue and traveled south. While traveling south on Randolph Avenue, the vehicle failed to maintain its lane when entering the northbound lane.
The vehicle then turned right onto Spring Street, failing to maintain its travel lane by entering the eastbound lane. The vehicle turned left onto Elizabeth Street, continuing south. As the car began to park on the right near the curb, Officer Caraig activated the overhead emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop. Before the vehicle stopped, Officer Caraig observed the vehicle strike the curb.
Officer Caraig approached the passenger side of the vehicle. He met with the driver, Mr. Olman Mejia Flores, 19. He asked if I spoke Spanish, and I replied that I did not.
When Officer Caraig asked for his driver’s license, registration, and insurance card, he slowly handed me his NJ probationary driver’s license. Officer Caraig radioed Officer Kristopher Martinez for assistance in Spanish translation.
Officer Caraig then asked him to step out of the vehicle several times, but he stated he did not understand and slowly put on his seatbelt. While conversing with Mr. Mejia Flores, Officer Caraig observed his eyes as bloodshot, watery, and droopy. His speech was accented, incoherent, rambling, slobbering, slow and slurred. His demeanor was cooperative, polite, and calm. He had an occupant with him who was seated in the front passenger seat. His passenger was observed to have bloodshot, watery, and droopy eyes. His passenger was later identified as Mr. Elder Flores.
A series of field sobriety tests were performed. After the tests, Mr. Mejia Flores was advised and placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated. He was handcuffed behind his back and placed into the patrol vehicle.
Officer Caraig administered the alcotest to Mr. Mejia Flores, and Officer Martinez assisted in translating the instructions. He provided two sufficient breath samples. The alcotest results indicated that Mr. Mejia Flores had a BAC of 0.13%.
Mr. Mejia Flores was issued the following traffic summonses:
•Driving while intoxicated
•Careless driving (39:4-97)
•Probationary driver violating hours of operation (39:3-13.8)
•Failure to notify DMV of address change (39:3-36)
•Failure to maintain traffic lane (39-4-88)
•Improper use of high headlight beams (39:3-60)
He was driving a 2009 Black Honda, which Bunky’s Towing towed from the scene.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, this Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
