Woman with Arrest Warrants and a Suspended License Arrested for DWI

Around 2:14 AM on February 13, 2022, Officer Roosevelt Stone with the Hamilton Township Police Department observed a 2012 Ford Focus driving on Greenwood Avenue without headlights and swerving across the double yellow lines multiple times. He initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Greenwood Avenue and Lynwood Avenue. He made contact with the driver, later identified as Samantha Coyle, and asked for her license, registration, and insurance. As she was searching for her documents, Samantha seemed incoherent and displayed signs of impairment.

Another officer arrived on scene to assist with the traffic stop as Officer Stone returned to his car to run her information through the system. Upon running her information, it was discovered that her license was currently suspended and she had two active arrest warrants. Officer Stone once again approached Samantha and asked her to exit the vehicle. As she exited the vehicle, he detected the odor of alcohol. Officer Stone placed Samantha under arrest based upon the outstanding warrants from Trenton, but told her that she would be released after they processed her at the station.

The other officer suggested to Officer Stone that Samantha may also be impaired, and he agreed to place her under arrest for suspected DWI as well. Since she was arrested for a suspected DWI, her vehicle was towed for a mandatory 12-hour hold according to John’s Law. Before she was transported to the station, a female officer arrived on scene to conduct a more detailed search. Samantha continued to be uncooperative during the ride to the station as Officer Stone was transporting her.

After they arrived at police HQ, Officer Derek Fiabane read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators to Samantha, and she eventually agreed to submit breath samples for testing. Officer Fiabane administered the Alcotest machine, and after multiple attempts, Samantha finally submitted adequate breath samples. Her Alcotest results indicated a BAC of 0.17%, which is more than double the legal limit of 0.08%. Officer Fiabane also administered the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, and Samantha displayed 6/6 indicators of impairment.

After the breathalyzer was administered, the police processed the outstanding warrants out of Trenton. After someone else signed the Potential Liability Warning on Samantha’s behalf, the officers released her on R.O.R pending her court appearance. Officer Stone issued Samantha the following summonses: Operating under the influence, reckless driving, careless driving, driving after license suspended, and failure to use lighted lamps

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