HAMMONTON—Police continued to crack down on people driving while under the influence with a series of arrests in the beginning of April, including the following, Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said.
• On April 3 at 11:36 p.m. at the location of Weymouth and Reading Avenues, Sgt. David Reustle observed a vehicle stopped in a dirt lot between Eighth Street and S. Egg Harbor Road.
The vehicle was a red Ford F-150, parked with its lights illuminated but it appeared unoccupied, Friel said.
The vehicle left the area and proceeded southbound on Weymouth Road, and while closing the gap, Reustle observed the vehicle approaching speeds of 75 miles per hour, Friel said.
Friel said the vehicle was stopped in the area of Seventh Street and Weymouth Road.
The driver, who was later identified as Randall Thies, 53, of Conway, S.C., was placed under arrest for operating under the influence, Friel said.
He was transported to police headquarters for processing and released as per John’s Law with the following motor vehicle violations: driving while under the influence (DWI), reckless driving, careless driving, open container of alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and failure to possess registration, Friel said. Thies will be appearing in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court regarding the charges, Friel said.
Friel said Reustle was the investigating and arresting officer.
• On April 4 at 7:15 p.m. at the intersection of 11th Street and Judy’s Court, Reustle observed a vehicle traveling westbound on N. Egg Harbor Road with the liftgate for the rear of the vehicle open, Friel said.
As the vehicle proceeded southbound on 11th Street, the vehicle reached 44 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone, Friel said.
The vehicle was subsequently stopped, and after an interview with the driver, Sheila Presti, 55, of Hammonton, she was placed under arrest for driving while under the influence, Friel said. She was found to be in possession of 41 oxycodone pills, 14 morphine pills, a white rock-like substance believed to be crack cocaine and a straw with white powdery residue, Friel said.
She was transported to police headquarters for processing and released as per John’s Law pending a court appearance in Atlantic County Superior Court, with the following motor vehicle charges and criminal charges: driving while under the influence, careless driving, reckless driving, failure to exhibit documents, failure to possess insurance card, unlicensed driver, failure to possess driver’s license and vehicle improperly loaded and allowed to spill, possession of controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Friel said Reustle was the investigating and arresting officer.
• On April 9 at 2:55 a.m. on the 1000 block of N. Egg Harbor Road, a vehicle crash occurred, Friel said.
“The police department received a call about a single motor vehicle crash with a vehicle striking a utility pole,” Friel said.
A 1999 Mitsubishi Montero was traveling westbound on Route 561 when it struck a pole, Friel said.
The driver backed up, left the scene and drove into the next town where he was stopped by the Winslow Twp. Police Department, Friel said.
The vehicle was operated by Pascual Baltazar, 20, of Winslow Twp., Friel said, adding that he was found to be operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. He was placed under arrest, transported to police headquarters for processing and charged with the following: refusal to submit to breath testing, operating a motor vehicle while consuming alcohol underage, careless driving, reckless driving, open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, failing to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, failure to possess the registration, failure to possess driver’s license, failure to possess insurance card, driving while suspended, failure to wear seatbelt, unlicensed driver and failure to maintain lane of travel, Friel said. Baltazar was also charged with criminal mischief for urinating in the processing room, Friel said.
He was released as per John’s Law pending a court appearance in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court, Friel said.
Friel said Officer Dalton Verderame was the investigating and arresting officer.
This report is comprised of arrests and investigations made by the men and women of local enforcement. All suspects and arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.