20-Year-Old Arrested for DWI after Drinking in Parking Lot

Around 9:46 PM on April 7, 2023, Officer Thomas Anzalone arrived on scene in the parking lot of the Days Inn by Wyndham on Route 206, and he observed an individual sitting in the driver seat of a 2011 Ford Explorer who appeared to be impaired. He initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the person in the driver seat, who would later be identified as 20-year-old Elmer Cucul. The person in the passenger seat admitted that they had been drinking, and Officer Anzalone noticed that there were multiple empty containers of Modelo in the back seat, along with beer bottle caps littered in the parking lot next to the vehicle.

Since the person in the driver’s seat seemed to be of limited English proficiency, he radioed for another officer to come and help with the translation. Officer Rodriguez and Officer Rivera arrived shortly afterwards, and they assisted Officer Anzalone by translating for him. Since Officer Anzalone suspected that Elmer may be impaired, he was asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises.

The first exercise involved the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, and Elmer did not seem to understand the instructions. The second exercise involved the Walk and Turn test, and Elmer failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step or turn as instructed. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and Elmer did not to raise his foot in the proper fashion or count in the correct sequence.

Based on the open containers of alcohol and his inability to adequately perform the field sobriety exercises, Officer Anzalone placed Elmer under arrest for driving under the influence. After he was placed under arrest, his vehicle was searched and impounded for a mandatory 12-hour period as required by John’s Law. The other 3 occupants of the vehicle were permitted to return to their rooms at the hotel.

Elmer was transported by Officer Anzalone to the Hillsborough Township Police Headquarters. Once at police HQ, the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators was read to him. Elmer agreed to provide breath samples, and his Alcotest results indicated a BAC of 0.11%.

After Elmer was processed, he was released to a friend party he signed the Potential Liability Warning form on his behalf. Officer Anzalone wrote him the following summonses: Operating under the influence and driving without a license.

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