DOVER — On Saturday, June 29th, 2024, at approximately 2:10 a.m., Sergeant Boris Sanchez was parked in the front parking lot of Dover Dodge, 160 E Blackwell Street, monitoring vehicular traffic on East Blackwell Street.
Shortly after that, he heard the sound of a car horn, drawing his attention to East Blackwell Street and Mercer Street.
At that time, he observed a red pickup truck traveling eastbound on East Blackwell Street with a white Jeep Wrangler traveling directly behind it. He then saw the Jeep Wrangler suddenly pass the pickup truck on the right side and continue eastbound on East Blackwell Street, with the pickup truck now traveling directly behind the Jeep Wrangler.
After the vehicle passed his location, Sergeant Sanchez entered the roadway and began to pursue the Jeep Wrangler. As the Jeep Wrangler approached South Salem Street, it was in the dedicated right-turn lane when it abruptly moved from the turning lane and returned to East Blackwell Street without signaling to the pickup truck. As he passed the South Salem Street intersection, Sergeant Sanchez positioned his patrol vehicle behind the Jeep Wrangler and activated his emergency overhead lights.
The Jeep Wrangler failed to stop and continued traveling straight, during which Sergeant Sanchez observed it fail to maintain its lane by partially crossing over the double yellow centerline. The Jeep Wrangler finally stopped on East Blackwell Street at the intersection of Sammis Avenue.
Sergeant Sanchez approached the Jeep Wrangler from the passenger side and contacted the driver, Cristobal Rea, 40, Newark, who was the vehicle’s sole occupant. He introduced himself and explained the reason for the traffic stop, after which Rea indicated that he did not recall passing the pickup truck. When asked where he was coming from, Rea provided conflicting statements, suggesting that he was from Newark, coming from Newark and that he was coming from a friend’s house. When asked why he was in Dover, Rea stated that he and his friend were at a party “or something” but did not elaborate.
During the conversation, Rea exhibited signs of impairment, including bloodshot and watery eyes and slurred speech. Dover Police Officer Fuentes and Officer Fenske arrived at the scene.
At that time, Sergeant Sanchez administered field sobriety tests, which he failed, and Sergeant Sanchez placed Rea under arrest for Driving While Intoxicated. Dover Police Officer Fuentes and Officer Fenske placed handcuffs onto Mr. Rae. During a search of the Jeep Wrangler for evidence, a brown, unsealed, and partially consumed alcoholic beverage (Buchanan) was located on the floorboard behind the passenger rear seat.
Rea eventually refused to provide breath samples for testing. The following summons was issued to Mr. Rea:
•Operating Under the Influence (39:4-50)
•Improper Passing (39:4-85)
•Consent to take breath samples (39:4-50.2)
•Reckless Driving (39:4-96)
•Failure to Keep Right (39:4-82)
•Traffic on Marked Lane – unsafe lane change (39:4-88B)
•Open Container (39:4-51B)
•Consume Alcoholic Beverages in Motor Vehicle (39:4-51A)
He was released to a responsible adult with a court date of July 15.
Editors Note: The court’s rules require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
