Fairfield Police Arrest Three on First Weekend of "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over;" One Traveling West on Route 46 East

8/18/2014

by Carolyne Volpe Curley /

Credit: Carolyne Volpe Curley

FAIRFIELD, NJ - Three men were arrested by Fairfield Police during the first weekend of the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. All three were traveling on Route 46 and Route 80 during busy travel times. Arrests were made by Fairfield Officer Jeffrey Dean and Fairfield Deputy Police Chief and Officer in Charge Anthony Manna

Friday, Aug. 15

On Friday night around 10:40pm, Manna checked on a tractor trailer that was parked on the shoulder of Route 46 East, near the Target store. Manna found the driver, Thomas Jowers, 55, of Inkster, MI, asleep in the cab with the truck's engine still running. After he was awakened by Manna, Jowers reportedly demonstrated the condition of someone under the influence and he apparently would not participate in field sobriety tests .

Manna placed Jowers under arrest and transported him to police headquarters for breath-testing while his tractor-trailer was impounded. Once at headquarters, Jowers allegedly refused to submit samples of his breath for testing.

He was eventually released on his own recognizance and has an Aug. 27 court date in the Fairfield Municipal Court.

Charges

Driving under the influence
Refusal to submit to breath testing
Operating a commercial vehicle while under the influence
Refusal to submit to breath samples while operating a commercial vehicle
Improper parking on the highway

Saturday, Aug. 16

At approximately 11:40pm, Saturday night, Manna investigated a 1994 BMW which exited McDonald's on Route 46 East and allegedly entered the highway traveling west in the eastbound lanes.

To immediately get the attention of the driver, Jason Untracht, 32, of New York City, the deputy chief drove his police vehicle onto the grass median with its lights and sirens on.

"However, Untracht did not stop or slow down," Manna commented.
"We were finally able to get the vehicle stopped
near the Comfort Inn hotel,
approximately three quarters of a mile from where
the vehicle first began traveling the wrong way on the highway.

Apparently, at least five vehicles that were traveling east on Route 46 that had to avoid a collision with the BMW.

Manna administered a standard field sobriety test and, at headquarters, a breath test. The BMW was impounded and Untracht was placed under arrest. He was eventually released on his own recognizance and has an Aug. 27 court date in the Fairfield Municipal Court.

Charges

operating while under the influence
operating with a suspended license
driving the wrong way on the highway
careless driving
failure to produce an insurance card

Sunday, Aug. 17

Sunday night, at about 8:40pm, Dean was on patrol on Two Bridges Road when he observed a 1999 Chevrolet with a brake light that was allegedly not working. Dean followed the car onto Route 80 East where the driver, Anibal Correa, 34, of Paterson, reportedly had difficulty maintaining his lane.

Dean pulled the car over and after administering the standard field sobriety test, arrested Correa without incident. His vehicle was impounded and he was transported to headquarters for breath testing. Eventually, he was released on his own recognizance and has an Aug. 20 court date in the Fairfield Municipal Court.

Charges

Operating under the influence
Improper maintenance of lamps
Careless driving
Failure to maintain a lane

"The importance of this DUI enforcement initiative
was plainly evident in the arrests of this past weekend.
There is little doubt that our officers took a significant threat
to innocent motorists off the roadway
and we will continue to aggressively do so," Manna commented.

Further Information
Fairfield Police Department
Deputy Chief and Officer in Charge: Anthony Manna
230 Fairfield Road
Fairfield, NJ 07004
973-227-1400
Website
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