DOVER – A West New York man was arrested on Sunday, January 26, after police found him asleep behind the wheel of a running vehicle on East Blackwell Street. Officers determined the driver, identified as Hugo Cruz-Mateo, 35, West New York, was intoxicated and charged him with numerous motor vehicle offenses.
According to the Dover Police Department, Officer Michael Cannon was conducting parking enforcement at approximately 3:12 a.m. when he noticed a black 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE parked illegally in front of a driveway with its engine running. Upon approaching the vehicle, Officer Cannon observed Cruz-Mateo asleep in the driver’s seat.
Concerned for his welfare, Officer Cannon requested backup from Officer German Liranzo. Despite using emergency sirens, knocking on the windows, and shaking the vehicle for nearly ten minutes, officers struggled to wake CruzMateo. When he finally woke up, he appeared disoriented and struggled to open the door, repeatedly lowering the window instead.
Once officers got the driver-side door open, they detected a strong odor of alcohol from inside the vehicle. CruzMateo exhibited bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, and difficulty standing, leading officers to suspect he was under the influence. When asked if he would perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs), Cruz-Mateo agreed. Officer Liranzo conducted the tests in Spanish, and during the process, Cruz-Mateo admitted multiple times that he was drunk.
Based on his performance, officers placed Cruz-Mateo under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was handcuffed, read his Miranda Rights in Spanish, and transported to police headquarters. His vehicle was impounded under John’s Law, which mandates a 12-hour hold for vehicles involved in DUI arrests.
At police headquarters, Cruz-Mateo agreed to provide breath samples and was transported to Randolph Township Police Department for Alcotest processing, as the Dover Police Department’s Alcotest machine was out of order. After testing, Cruz-Mateo was returned to Dover police headquarters.
During questioning, CruzMateo admitted to drinking eight Corona Extra beers at a local bar. He also disclosed that he had diabetes and had taken insulin earlier that evening.
CruzMateo was issued four summonses for:
- Driving While Intoxicated (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50)
- Driving with a Suspended Drivers License or Registration (N.J.S.A. 39:4-40)
- Driving without a License (N.J.S.A. 39-4-10)
- Reckless Driving (N.J.S.A. 39:4-96)
- Parking in Front of a Driveway (N.J.S.A. 39:4-138)
His friend arrived at 7:00 a.m. to take custody of him under John’s Law, which requires an individual arrested for DUI to be released to a responsible party. Cruz-Mateo was advised of his mandatory court appearance at Dover Municipal Court.
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.
