Police crackdown on drunk drivers in town
HAMMONTON—Police made three local driving while under the influence (DWI) arrests in two days last week, Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel told The Gazette.
• On June 1 at 2:32 a.m. on the 300 block of Bellevue Avenue, a motor vehicle stop became at DWI arrest, Friel said. K-9 Cpl. Robert Zbikowski and Officer Dalton Scola encountered Venkata Mahankali, 25, of Philadelphia, parked in a handicapped spot at a local convenience store without proper plates or placard, Friel said.
Mahankali was found to be operating his vehicle under the influence of alcohol (DWI), Friel said. He was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters for processing, Friel said. According to Friel, he received the following motor vehicle citations: open container of alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle, parked in a handicapped spot without a placard, reckless driving and a DWI. He was arrested, processed and released as per John’s Law, and will be appearing in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court, Friel said.
Zbikowski was the arresting and charging officer, Friel said.
• On June 1 at 10:28 p.m. on the prime block of Railroad Avenue, Officer Kyle Ambrozaitis and Officer Daniel Norcross stopped a motor vehicle for a violation that was driven by Miguel Maldonado-Felipe, 37, of Hammonton, Friel said.
Upon further investigation, Maldonado-Felipe was found to be operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol, Friel said. He was placed under arrest, transported to the police station for processing, and during the encounter was also resisting arrest, Friel said.
He was processed and charged with the following criminal and motor vehicle violations: resisting arrest; driving while under the influence (DWI), unlicensed driver, reckless driving, careless driving, failing to possess the registration card, disregard of stop sign and open container in a motor vehicle, Friel said.
Maldonado-Felipe was later released as per John’s Law pending a court appearance in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court, Friel said.
Ambrozaitis was the arresting and charging officer, Friel said.
• On June 2, at 3:18 p.m., at the location of Central Avenue and Walmer Street, police received a call regarding an erratic driver that led to a motor vehicle stop made by K-9 Officer Jonathan O’Neil, Friel said. O’Neil stopped Kelli Jiampetti, 51, of Hammonton and found her to be operating a vehicle while under the influence, Friel said.
Jiampetti was placed under arrest, transported to police headquarters for processing and charged with the following motor vehicle violations: driving while under the influence (DWI), refusal to submit to breath testing, reckless driving, failure to possess registration, failure to possess the insurance card and failure to maintain a lane of travel, Friel said.
Friel said she was released as per John’s Law pending an appearance in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court.
O’Neil was the arresting and charging officer, Friel said.