03/18/2024
Bodycam Shows Arrest For DUI and Fleeing The Scene
Around 12:15 AM on October 22, 2023, Sergeant Frank Mazza with the Middletown Township Police Department responded when County Dispatch advised all nearby units of a black Mercedes that had struck a median in Atlantic Highlands while driving at excessive rates of speed. Sergeant Mazza observed a black Mercedes matching this description in the vicinity of Highway 36 westbound and East Road, he eventually stopped the vehicle near Highway 36 westbound and Church Street.
He made contact with the 23-year-old driver, later identified as Ms. Yang, and he also noticed that there were 3 other females in the vehicle. He asked her where she was coming from and Ms. Yang initially stated that she was coming from China, before telling him that she and her 3 other friends had been at the beach. While she initially denied consuming any alcohol, Sergeant Mazza detected the odor of alcohol in the vehicle. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Sergeant Mazza informed the other officers at the scene that he would have her exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety testing.
The first exercise involved the recitation of the alphabet from “A” to “Z,” but Ms. Yang did not recite each letter individually. The second exercise was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, and Sergeant Mazza observed a lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. The third exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Ms. Yang initially failed to raise her foot while continuing to count, and then she attempted the test again. The final exercise was the Walk and Turn test, and Ms. Yang failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step while walking backwards to her starting instead of turning and walking forward.
Based on her erratic driving patterns, the odor of alcohol on her person, and her inability to adequately complete the field sobriety exercises, Sergeant Mazza placed Ms. Yang under arrest for driving under the influence. Her vehicle was searched and impounded for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law. Patrolman John Foy transported Ms. Yang to Middletown Township Police Headquarters for initial processing, while Patrolman Anthony Bartolone remained on scene with the 3 other females until an Uber driver arrived on scene to transport them to their final destination.
At police HQ, Ms. Yang was read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators and agreed to submit breath samples for testing. Sergeant Mazza administered the Alcotest machine, and her results indicated a BAC of 0.126%, which is over the legal limit of 0.08%. Ms. Yang was turned over to Patrolman Foy for further processing, and he eventually released Ms. Yang after a sober adult after he signed the Potential Liability Warning Form on her behalf. She was issued the following summonses: Operating under the influence and reckless driving.
