Incoherent Woman Arrested for DWI after 3-Car Accident

Around 10:36 PM on July 18, 2022, officers from the Evesham Township Police Department dispatched to the site of a motor vehicle accident involving 3 vehicles in the area on Route 70 West under the Route 73 overpass. Officer Matthew Addezio was the first to arrive at the scene, and he confirmed that there were no injuries. He made contact 34-year-old Juelia Simon, who was the driver of a 2019 Audi, along with her passenger Amanda Sigwart. While Officer Addezio suspected that Juelia was impaired, he radioed for another officer to come and administer the field sobriety exercises because he had personal connections to Amanada Sigwart’s family.

Officer Franci Garibay arrived on scene around 10:57 PM and made contact with Juelia and Amanda. Officer Garibay noticed that Juelia’s speech was slurred while her eyes were watery and bloodshot, and she also detected the odor of alcohol emanating from her breath. Her passenger admitted to Officer Garibay that they had consumed alcohol earlier that night at LaScala’s Fire restaurant and later at Redstone. After Sergeant Gary Borbridge arrived at the scene, Officer Garibay instructed Juelia to exit the vehicle and proceeded to give instructions in regards to the field sobriety exercises.

They first exercise they attempted to administer was the Walk and Turn test. As they began to provide instructions, Juelia displayed a lack of balance and seemed unable to comprehend what they were saying. After multiple attempts to explain the instructions, Officer Garibay decided to terminate the field sobriety exercises for safety reasons.

Based on the traffic accident, her incoherent statements, and her inability to adequately complete the field sobriety exercises, Officer Garibay placed Juelia under arrest for driving under the influence. Juelia was transported by Officer Garibay to Evesham Township Police Headquarters. Officers read Juelia the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators, and she agreed to provide breath samples. As they began the 20-minute observation period, she became belligerent and at one point slipped out of handcuffs. However, she did invoke her Miranda rights and refused to answer questions related to her arrest.

After the 20-minute observation period, Sergeant Borbridge attempted to administer to the breathalyzer test to Juelia. Despite multiple attempts, she was unable to provide adequate breath samples so she was charged with a refusal. After Juelia was processed, she was released to a sober individual after she signed the Potential Liability Warning form on her behalf. Officer Garibay issued Juelia the following summonses: Operating under the influence, refusal to submit to chemical test, reckless driving, and careless driving.

Court records indicate that on December 15, 2022, Juelia pleaded guilty for her refusal to submit to a chemical test and was fined a total of $640. Her license was not revoked, but she was required to use an ignition interlock device for 9 months and complete 12 hours at an intoxicated driver resource center. The other 3 citations were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

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