Woman Busted for DWI after Sleeping in Liquor Store Parking Lot

Описание: Around 6:40 PM on August 1, 2023, Patrolman Erick Finley with the Sparta Township Police Department responded to a report of an unresponsive female sleeping inside a 2007 Ford Explorer in the parking lot of ShopRite’s liquor store. He arrived on scene and made contact with the woman in the driver’s seat. He was able to awaken the woman after knocking on her window, but she seemed disoriented and unaware of her surroundings. After asking for her driver’s license, he identified her as Carissa Kalaydjian.

Given the initial nature of the call, first responders with the Sparta Ambulance Squad arrived shortly afterwards to evaluate Carissa, and Patrolwoman Brown arrived on scene to assist. Patrolman Finley informed them that there was no medical emergency and they cleared the scene. He returned to his patrol car to run her license and spoke with Patrolwoman Brown about their next steps. Based on their suspicion of impairment, Carissa was offered an opportunity to complete field sobriety exercises.

Patrolman Finley started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Patrolman Finley observed a lack of smooth pursuit and distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Carissa did not walk heel-to-toe on all steps and turned improperly. The third exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and Carissa initially claimed that she could not complete the test because she was wearing heels. Patrolman Finley offered her another opportunity to complete the test without her shoes, but she was still unable to maintain her balance or raise her foot as instructed. At this point, Patrolman Finley terminated the One Leg Stand test for safety reasons.

Based on her falling asleep behind the wheel, the odor of alcohol on her person, her physical appearance indicating impairment, and her inability to adequately complete the field sobriety exercises, Patrolman Finley placed Carissa under arrest for driving under the influence. Her vehicle was searched and impounded for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law. Patrolman Finley subsequently transported Carissa to the Sparta Township Police Department for initial processing.

At police HQ, Carissa was read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators and agreed to submit breath samples. Her Alcotest results indicated a BAC of 0.12%, which is more than the legal limit of 0.08%. After Carissa was processed, she was released to her husband pending her court appearance after she signed the Potential Liability Warning form on her behalf. Patrolman Finley issued her the following summonses: Operating under the influence, careless driving, failure to possess driver registration, and failure to possess driver insurance card
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