Man With PBA Gold Card Arrested for DWI in Red Bank, NJ

Around 12:00 AM on December 8, 2024, Patrolman Preston Mellaci with the Red Bank Police Department observed a 2018 Nissan that was being driven at an excessive rate of speed on Bridge Avenue. He began pursuing the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop on W Bergen Boulevard. He activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, who was identified as 19-year-old Vincent Calvacca.

Vincent told Patrolman Mellaci that he was coming from Ohio State and presented the officer with a gold card. When Patrolman Mellaci asked whose gold card it was, he told Patrolman Mellaci that the gold card was given to him by his late friend’s father. As he was speaking with Vincent, he noticed that there were multiple open containers inside the vehicle. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Vincent was asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises.

A Sergeant arrived on scene and first administered the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Vincent failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step and turned improperly. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and Vincent failed to raise his foot in the proper fashion while counting in an incorrect sequence.

Based on his erratic driving, the odor of alcohol, the open containers in his vehicle, and his inability to adequately complete the field sobriety exercises, Patrolman Mellaci placed Vincent under arrest for driving under the influence. The vehicle that he had been driving was impounded for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law. He was transported by another officer to the Red Bank Police Department for further processing.

At the Red Bank Police Department, Vincent was read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators and agreed to submit breath samples for testing. His Alcotest results indicated a BAC of 0.113%, which was more than double the legal limit of 0.08% for drivers over 21 and well above the legal limit of 0.01% for drivers under 21.

Patrolman Mellaci issued Vincent the following summonses:

-Operating under the influence

-Operating under the influence underage

-Reckless driving

-Careless driving

-Speeding

-Open container

Vincent was also charged with possession of a false ID under 2C:21-2.1D.

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