Sheriff's Officer Arrested for DWI After Fleeing Crash Scene

Around 10:38 PM on July 14, 2025, Officer Mark Chanley with the Piscataway Township Police Department had stopped for a meal break at the Taco Bell on 4807 Stelton Road in neighboring South Plainfield. He observed a white 2021 Jeep attempting to flee the scene after striking a curb and striking a sign afterwards. Officer Chanley began pursuing her, and he initiated a traffic stop. The driver pulled into the parking lot of Staples at 7000 Hadley Road and stopped her vehicle next to a handicapped parking space.

The driver was identified as Sandy Perez, a Sheriff's Officer with the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office. She told him that she was heading back to a hotel after having an argument with a significant other. She later admitted to consuming a few drinks earlier that evening. Officer Nicholas Polizzano arrived on scene shortly afterwards and he took over the investigation.

Based on the officers’ suspicion of impairment and the visible front-end damage to her vehicle, Sandy was asked to perform field sobriety exercises. Sandy told the officers that she was unwilling to perform field sobriety exercises. Shortly afterwards, she was placed under arrest for DWI. Her Sheriff’s Officer vest was taken by the South Plainfield Police, and the she told the officers that her firearm was secured in the back of her vehicle.

A search of her vehicle incident to arrest yielded 2 open containers of Jameson whiskey. Her Jeep was eventually impounded for a mandatory 12-hour pursuant to John’s Law and they transported Sandy to the South Plainfield Police Department for further processing.

Officer Polizzano issued Sandy the following citations:

-Operating under the influence (39:4-50)

-Reckless driving (39:4-96)

-Leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage (39:4-129B)

-Failure to report an accident (39:4-130)

-Consuming an alcoholic beverage inside a motor vehicle (39:4-51A)

-Open container (39:4-51B)

As of October 5, 2025, court records indicate that Sandy’s case is still pending before the South Plainfield Municipal Court.

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