Drunk Teacher Unable to Recite the Alphabet Before DWI Arrest

Around 12:20 AM on January 19, 2025, Officer Forcenito and Sergeant Desiato with the Westfield Police Department were conducting an unrelated traffic stop in the area of West North Avenue and Clark Street when they observed a 2017 Jeep driving in the shoulder. He activated his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop on Parks Road. Sergeant Desiato instructed the vehicle to stop, and the driver eventually stopped after he banged his fist on the hood of her car. As he was speaking with Dawn, Sergeant Desiato detected the odor of alcohol. Dawn told him that she was coming from the Riverside Inn, a bar in Cranford. She admitted to consuming alcohol earlier that evening. Based on his suspicion of impairment, she was asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises after Officers Swiderski and Sharfetz arrived on scene to assist.

The first exercise was the recitation of the alphabet from “B” to “Y.” Despite being a teacher, Dawn was unable to do so as instructed. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Dawn failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step and failed to keep her arms at her sides. The third exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and Dawn failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion while putting her foot down before the test was complete. The final exercise was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Officer Swiderski observed the lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees.

Based on her erratic driving, the odor of alcohol, and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, Officer Swiderski placed Dawn under arrest for driving under the influence. Dawn’s vehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold according to John’s Law. Officers Swiderski and Sharfetz transported Dawn back to the Westfield Police Department for further processing.

Dawn was read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators, but she refused to submit breath samples. After the officers finished processing her, she eventually released to a sober adult pending her court appearance after he signed the Potential Liability Warning form on Dawn’s behalf. Officer Swiderski issued Dawn the following citations: Operating under the influence, refusal to submit to chemical test, consent to take samples of breath, reckless driving, careless driving, failure to yield right of way to emergency vehicles, and traffic on marked lanes.

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