JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP — John A. Doherty, 57, was arrested for driving while intoxicated early Saturday morning, September 5, after police said he backed his pickup truck into another vehicle in the Club 15 parking lot on Route 15 South.
At approximately 3:00 a.m., Jefferson Township Police Officer Liam Shernce was assisting Officer Johnson on an unrelated motor vehicle stop in the lot between Club 15 and Sebring Auto when he heard a loud noise that sounded like a crash in the Club 15 parking lot. A white pickup truck was then seen moving into a different parking spot.
Officers Johnson and Gonnella responded and observed the white Ford F-150 backing into a parking spot. Officer Johnson performed a horizontal gaze nystagmus test on the driver, Doherty, and observed all six indicators of impairment, according to the report.
Officer Shernce then met with Doherty, who had droopy, watery and bloodshot eyes. Doherty admitted to drinking that evening but did not elaborate. He told police he was backing up to move to a different spot and “didn’t know” if he hit anything. The club’s manager showed police surveillance footage of Doherty’s truck backing into a black pickup truck and then moving to a different parking spot. No damage was visible on either vehicle, and the crash was handled as non-reportable at the request of both parties.
Doherty agreed to field sobriety testing. During the walk-and-turn test, he started before being instructed several times, did not keep his hands at his sides, lost his balance multiple times and did not walk heel to toe. During the one-leg stand test, he lost his balance twice and stopped performing the test, according to police.
Doherty was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. A search of his truck by Officer Gonnella and Corporal Quidort found no intoxicants, and the vehicle was towed by Richie’s.
At headquarters, Doherty was read his Miranda rights, agreed to speak with police and was described as cooperative and polite throughout. He provided two breath samples on the Alcotest 9510, which showed a blood alcohol content of 0.09 percent. The legal limit in New Jersey is 0.08 percent.
Doherty was released to a friend under John’s Law. He was charged with:
- Driving While Intoxicated (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50)
- Reckless Driving (N.J.S.A. 39:4-96)
Editor’s Note: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Copyright 2026 Zoomus Marketing, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission from the publisher.
