Star Mathis Busted for DWI after Sleeping in her Car

Around 1:45 AM on May 13, 2023, Officers Randy Romero and Thomas Horton observed a 2014 Mercedes with the ignition running that happened to be blocking a residential driveway on Scotland Road near the intersection with Montrose Avenue. As Officer Horton approached the vehicle, he noticed that the driver, later identified as 28-year-old Star Mathis, happened to be asleep. He instructed her to put the vehicle in park and turn off the engine. Since the officers noticed signs of impairment, Star was asked to exit the vehicle. Officer Dylan O’Connor arrived at the scene shortly afterwards to assist.

Based on his suspicion of impairment, Officer O’Connor offered Star the opportunity to perform field sobriety exercises. The first exercise involved the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test. The second exercise involved the Walk and Turn test, and Star failed to walk heel-to-toe or turn as instructed. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and Star failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion.

Based on her inability to adequately perform the field sobriety exercises, Officer O’Connor placed Star under arrest for driving under the influence. After she was placed under arrest, her vehicle was searched and impounded for a mandatory 12-hour period as required by John’s Law. Star was transported by Officer O’Connor to South Orange Police Headquarters. Once at police HQ, he read her the Miranda rights as well as the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators. Star invoked her Miranda rights by refusing to answer questions and she also refused to provide breath samples.

After Star was processed, she was released to a friend after she signed the Potential Liability Warning form on her behalf. Officer O’Connor wrote her the following summonses: Operating under the influence, refusal to submit to chemical test, driving an unregistered motor vehicle, driving without insurance, and driving without a license.

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