Drunk Woman Assaults Sergeant Before DWI Arrest in Westfield, NJ

Around 2:14 AM on June 14, 2024, Sergeant Richard Gill and Patrolmen Jordan Barham, Christopher Marlow, and Donald Picciano with the Westfield Police Department were dispatched to the scene a motor vehicle accident involving a 2024 Hyundai Elantra striking a parked 2008 Nissan Rogue on West South Avenue. When Patrolman Barham arrived on scene, he observed that the Hyundai had sustained severe front-end damages and there was airbag deployment. Due to the impact of the crash, the Nissan Rogue moved approximately 20 feet from its initial position after it was struck by the eastbound Hyundai.

The driver was identified as Crystal Beverly, and she was visibly irate and shouting at the officers. Patrolman Barham observed indicators of impairment. Sergeant Gill made numerous attempts to deescalate the situation, but Crystal was unable to answer the officers’ questions and continued to behave in a belligerent manner. She first struck Sergeant Gill with her phone before throwing it on the ground. Sergeant Gill responded by giving her a warning, but she continued yelling at him.

After continuing to yell at the officers, Crystal eventually struck Sergeant Gill in the chest with a closed fist. As soon as he was struck, Beverly was guided to the ground and handcuffed. After Crystal was placed in the car, she told another officer that she was at Hugo’s Lounge in Plainfield earlier that evening and that she was headed home to Elizabeth. She admitted to consuming alcohol and smoking before operating a motor vehicle.

Based on her uncooperativeness, field sobriety exercises were not attempted. Patrolman Picciano transported Crystal to the Westfield Police Department as the other officers remained on scene and assessed the damages resulting from the crash. Hvehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold according to John’s Law and the Nissan Rogue had to be towed from the scene as well. At the station, she was searched by Lieutenant Maloney and evaluated by the Westfield Rescue Squad. She indicated that she wished to be transported to the hospital, and she was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Rahway, NJ.

Crystal was treated at the hospital and subsequently transported back to the Westfield Police Department. It was decided that Sergeant Gill would later submit a subpoena for medical records regarding blood testing and toxicology reports. Once she was back at the Westfield Police Department, she was read her Miranda warnings as well as the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators.

She agreed to submit samples of her breath for testing, and her Alcotest results indicated a BAC of 0.02%. However, the Alcotest was administered around 7:29 AM, which was more than 5 hours following the crash. Based on the circumstances, a DRE was called and Officer Timothy Stasyshyn with the Mountainside Police Department responded there. Officer Stasyshyn stated in his opinion that Crystal was under the influence of alcohol and cannabis and unable to operate a motor vehicle safely.

After they were finished processing Crystal, she was released to her friend pending her court appearance in the Westfield Municipal Court on June 26, 2024 after he signed the Potential Liability Warning on Crystal’s behalf. She was issued the following traffic citations: Operating under the influence, reckless driving, careless driving, and failure to maintain lane

She was also issued the following criminal summonses: Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer (2C:12-1B(5)(A)), Obstructing the Administration of the Law (2C:29-1A), and Resisting Arrest (2C:29-2A(1))

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