Bartender Blows OVER DOUBLE the Limit on Cinco de Mayo

Around 11:07 PM on May 5, 2024, Officer Steven Burns with the Lindenwold Police Department observed a black 2014 Jeep Wrangler nearly crash multiple times on Blackwood Clementon Road. He eventually initiated a traffic stop. After the driver pulled over, he exited his patrol car and made contact with her. She was eventually identified as Astrid Valdez-Guzman.

As he was speaking with Astrid, he detected the odor of alcohol and observed other indicators of impairment. Astrid claimed that she was coming from bar earlier that evening. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Astrid was eventually asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises. She was able to perform the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. However, she did not follow instructions on the Walk and Turn test so the tests were terminated.

Based on her erratic driving, her indicators of impairment, and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, Astrid was placed under arrest for DWI. Her vehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold according to John’s Law. She was then transported to the Lindenwold 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. Officer Thomas Mallon administered the Alcotest machine. Astrid’s Alcotest results indicated a BAC level of 0.17%, which was more than double the legal limit of 0.08%. After they finished processing Astrid, she was released to Edgar Cisneros pending her court appearance after he signed the Potential Liability Warning on Astrid’s behalf.

Officer Burns issued Astrid the following tickets:

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

-Reckless driving (39:4-96)

Court records indicate that on October 16, 2024, Astrid was found guilty of operating under the influence. As a result of her conviction, Astrid had to use an ignition interlock device for 3 months, spend 12 hours at an intoxicated driver resource center, and pay a total of $640 in fines. The other citation for reckless driving was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

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