Drunk "Optician" Arrested for DWI After Failing her Eye Test

Around 1:20 AM on March 8, 2025, Officer Edwin Sherman with the Waldwick Police Department observed a black 2021 Lexus swerving between lanes on Route 17 northbound. He activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, and the driver exited the highway onto Sheridan Avenue before pulling over under the overpass. Officer Sherman then exited his patrol car and made contact with the driver, who was identified as Marianna Covello.

He informed Marianna that he was stopping her because he saw her swerving on the highway. As he was speaking with Marianna, he detected the odor of alcohol and observed other indicators of impairment. Based on his suspicion, he began screening her. He first asked her to recite the alphabet from “d” to “p,” but she skipped the letter “i.” This was followed by a finger dexterity test, which Marianna successfully completed. After Officer Van Dyke arrived on scene, Marianna was asked to exit the vehicle and perform additional field sobriety exercises.

The first exercise was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. Around this time, Marianna mentioned that she was an “optician,” even though her social media indicates that she works as an Office Manager at an optician’s office. During the HGN test, Officer Sherman observed the lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. He also detected vertical nystagmus.

The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Marianna failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step, turned improperly, and took an incorrect number of steps. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Marianna failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and displayed a lack of balance.

Based on the odor of alcohol and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, Marianna was placed under arrest for DWI. Her vehicle was impounded by ALL POINTS Towing for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law. Officer Sherman transported Marianna to the Waldwick Police Department for further processing.

At the station, the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators was read to her, and she agreed to submit breath samples. Her Alcotest results indicated a BAC level of 0.15%, which was nearly double the legal limit of 0.08%. After they finished processing Marianna, she was released to her boyfriend Jonathan Lucente after he signed the Potential Liability Warning form on Marianna’s behalf.

Officer Sherman issued Marianna the following traffic tickets:

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

-Reckless driving (39:4-96)

-Traffic on marked lanes – unsafe lane change (39:4-88B)

Court records indicate that on July 7, 2025, Marianna was found guilty of operating under the influence. As a result of her conviction, her license was revoked for 1 day, while she also had to spend 12 hours at an intoxicated driver resource center and use an ignition interlock device for 7 months. The total amount that she had to pay in fines was $690, while the other 2 citations were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

The attorney listed as representing her was David M. Dunne, the father of Olivia Dunne.

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