Impaired Woman Assaults Cops After Eluding and Gets her THIRD DWI

Around 3:05 AM on June 7, 2025, Sergeant Connor McGrath with the Highlands Police Department observed a black 2004 Honda Accord running a red light while making a left turn onto SR 36 from Orchard Avenue. He began pursuing the vehicle and noticed that the driver running another red light in the Linden Avenue jug handle. As he activated his emergency lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop, the driver continued eluding him by running through a stop sign at the intersection of Linden Avenue and Waterwitch Avenue before turning left onto Waterwitch Avenue. After turning onto Waterwitch Avenue, the driver turned left onto Shore Drive and continued driving at a high rate of speed towards Popamora Park.

Since Shore Drive is a dead end road, Sergeant McGrath reduced his speed and advised dispatch of his location. The driver then pulled into the driveway of a residence on Shore Drive before loudly sounding the vehicle’s horn. Sergeant McGrath approached her vehicle and instructed the driver to exit, but she refused to comply. Due to her uncooperative nature, Sergeant McGrath had to forcibly remove her from the vehicle, and she was actively resisting. His body worn camera was briefly knocked off his vest during this altercation, but Patrolman Robert Alvator arrived on scene shortly afterwards and much of the altercation was still filmed on his camera.

The driver, identified as Amanda Peters, was placed in handcuffs and escorted to the patrol car. While conducting a search of her vehicle incident to arrest, the officers detected the odor of burnt cannabis. Due to their suspicion of impairment, her vehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold under John’s Law.

After they arrived at the Highlands Police Department, Sergeant McGrath administered field sobriety exercises. The first exercise was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, he observed the lack of smooth pursuit and distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Amanda did not touch heel-to-toe on each step, took an incorrect number of steps, and turned improperly. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Amanda failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion while putting her foot down before the test was complete.

After it was determined that she was under the influence, Sergeant McGrath proceeded to read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators so he could ask whether or not she wished to submit breath samples. Around this time, Amanda became extremely uncooperative and threatened to charge at the officers. Patrolman Kevin Connor proceeded to handcuff Amanda to the bench, but she kept actively resisting. At this time, it was determined that Amanda would be taken to the hospital. Patrolman Alvator transported Amanda to Monmouth Medical Center and released her to the car of hospital staff.

Amanda was issued the following traffic citations:

-Operating under the influence

-Refusal to submit to chemical test

-Reckless driving

-Failure to observe traffic control device

-Disregarding a stop sign

-Traffic on marked lanes

-Horns and warning devices

She was also criminally charged with Resisting Arrest (2C:29-2A(1)) and Eluding (2C:29-2B).

Amanda’s prior arrests include the following:

-Simple Assault in Middletown Township, New Jersey on April 11, 2022

-Simple Assault in Middletown Township, New Jersey on February 6, 2022

-DWI in Hazlet Township, New Jersey on February 25, 2019

-DWI in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey on February 18, 2017

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