19-Year-Old Girl (and Aspiring Cop) Gets Arrested for DWI

On November 2, 2022, Patrolman Brandon Rollo with the Howell Township Police Department was on patrol at Friendship Road near Teak Road along with Patrolman Richard Robertiello. Around 6:12 PM, he observed a 2020 Chevy driving 49 MPH in a 35 MPH zone. They began to follow the vehicle and activated their emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop in the vicinity of Route 9 South and Shady Lane. The driver pulled into a parking lot near Sorrentino’s II, and the officers approached the vehicle to initiate their investigation.

The driver, 19-year-old Brianna Anderson, told Patrolman Rollo that she was coming from her residence. Patrolman Robertiello proceeded to ask Brianna whether she had been drinking, but she denied having consumed any alcohol that day. Despite her denial, her account of events did not seem to be truthful because Patrolman Robertiello detected the odor of alcohol and observed an empty airplane bottle of alcohol in the vehicle.

Given their suspicion of intoxication, Patrolman Robertiello asked Brianna to perform standardized field sobriety exercises. Brianna was uncooperative and initially only agreed to participate in the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Patrolman Robertiello observed a lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees in both eyes (6/6 indicators). After the HGN test was complete, Brianna refused to do the Walk and Turn or One Leg Stand tests. Based on the presence of an empty bottle of Barstool Sports Pink Lemonade in the vehicle along with her unwillingness to perform the field sobriety exercises, Patrolman Rollo placed Brianna under arrest for driving under the influence.

After she was placed under arrest, her vehicle was searched and subsequently impounded for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law. Patrolmen Rollo and Robertiello transported her to Howell Township Police HQ for further processing. At the station, Brianna was searched by Patrolwoman Stephanie Regina before Patrolman Robertiello read her the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators. Brianna initially agreed to provide breath samples, but she was uncooperative during the administration of the breathalyzer test. After 8 unsuccessful attempts, she was charged with a refusal to submit breath samples.

After Brianna was processed, she was released to a sober individual after he signed the Potential Liability Warning form on her behalf. She was issued the following summonses: Operating under the influence, consent to take samples of breath, open container of alcohol, reckless driving, and speeding. Court records indicate that Brianna appeared in Court without the representation of an attorney on February 3, 2023, and pleaded guilty to operating under the influence (39:4-50). She was fined a total of $640, her license was revoked for 3 months, and she was ordered to complete 12 hours at an intoxicated driver resource center. The other 4 citations were all dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

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