SCOTCH PLAINS POLICE OFFICER INDICTED FOR ELUDING IN READINGTON TOWNSHIP
Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III, announced the indictment of Scotch Plains Police Officer Stephanie Roggina, age 26, of Flemington. On October 13, 2016, Ms. Roggina was indicted by a Hunterdon County Grand Jury for Eluding, a third-degree crime.
According to Prosecutor Kearns, “Ms. Roggina was stopped by the Readington Township Police Department on August 26, 2016, and subsequently arrested for eluding and driving while under the influence. An arraignment date will be scheduled by the court.” The filing of a criminal complaint is merely a step in the criminal justice process.
Roggina was charged with drunken driving, obstructing the passage of other vehicles, reckless driving, failing to yield to an emergency vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident.
The defendant is presumed innocent until the matter is resolved in a court of law.
PURSUIT / DWI ARREST
On Friday, August 26, 2016, at approximately 11:36 pm, police observed a black Ford Edge stopped at the stop sign on Hillcrest Road at the intersection of County Route 629. The officer watched the Ford for a lengthy period of time and when the vehicle did not move, despite there being no traffic in the area, the officer activated his emergency lights to conduct a motor vehicle stop and check on the driver.
When the officer activated his emergency lights the driver of the Ford turned west onto County Route 629 and began to accelerate away from the officer. The officer pursued the Ford with lights and siren activated with the Ford being driven off the roadway several times and in a reckless manner, once striking a guardrail on County Route 629. The officer finally stopped the Ford on Locust Road.
When the officer made contact with the driver, Stephanie Roggina, 26, of Flemington, NJ, he observed signs of intoxication. Roggina was arrested and charged with Eluding, Driving While Intoxicated, Obstructing Passage of Other Vehicles, Reckless Driving, Failure to Yield to an Emergency Vehicle, and Leaving the Scene of a Crash; she was later released and turned over to a sober adult with a pending court date.
DRUNK DRIVING ARRESTS
Readington Township Police Department reports on Friday, September 23, 2016, at 2130 hours, Corporal Rindock arrested John W. Collins, 50, from Flemington, NJ for driving while intoxicated. The officer stopped Collins for reckless driving on County Route 523 and detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage while speaking with him. Collins was arrested after failing several field sobriety tests. He was charged with DWI, reckless driving, and speeding. After being processed at headquarters, he was released to a friend pending a municipal court date.
Hit & Run Leads to Arrest
Police say that on October 8, 2016, at approximately 1928 hours, Ptl David Bodine was dispatched to the area of 202 and Pleasant Run Rd for a hit and run accident. Reports advised that a subject struck a vehicle that was traveling on County Rd 629 North. Ptl Bodine observed the vehicle while responding to the call on Rt 523. Ptl Bodine stopped the vehicle on Country Club Dr in Stanton Ridge and made contact with the driver Elizabeth Lowe (age 30) of Emmaus PA. and detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage.
Lowe was asked to step out of the vehicle and Ptl Bodine attempted to conduct field sobriety tests. Lowe refused and attempted to walk away from officers and down the sidewalk. Lowe was taken into custody at which time she attempted to pull away and twist her body to get away from the officers. Lowe was arrested for DWI, Obstruction of Justice and Resisting Arrest. Additional motor vehicle citations were given to Lowe for leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated, and failure to submit to breath test. Lowe was released to a sober adult and given a future court date to appear.
DWI – Marijuana
On Friday, August 12, 2016, at 0255 hours, Patrolman Brown stopped a suspicious vehicle that was seen leaving a boarding house on Route 22. The driver, Andres S. Villa-Cardosa, 22, from Whitehouse Station, NJ was arrested after failing to pass several field sobriety tests. He was charged with DWI and possession of an open alcoholic container. After being processed at headquarters, he was released to a friend pending municipal court.
A passenger in the vehicle, Amanda M. Veneziano, 19, from Flemington, NJ was found to be in possession of Marijuana wax. She was arrested and charged with possession of under 50 grams of Marijuana. After being processed at headquarters, she was released pending municipal court.
DWI Arrest
On Thursday, July 21, 2016, Jozsef Varga Jr., 35, from Lebanon, NJ was arrested during a motor vehicle stop on Mountain Road. Corporal Ayotte stopped Mr. Varga for maintenance of lamps and detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage while speaking with him. Mr. Varga was not able to complete standard field sobriety tests and was arrested for DWI. He was charged with DWI, refusal to submit to breath testing, and maintenance of lamps. After being processed at headquarters, he was released with summonses to appear in municipal court.
Warrant Arrest – DWI Arrest
On Tuesday, July 12, 2016, officers arrested Nicholas M. Veglatte, 31, from Whitehouse Station, NJ at his residence for two outstanding traffic warrants out of Bridgewater Township and North Plainfield Township. After posting bail at headquarters, he was released pending Municipal Court. Later in the evening, On Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at 0017 hours, officers responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle and located Veglatte driving his 2014 GMC erratically. Patrolman Wright suspected that Veglatte was under the influence of a controlled and dangerous substance and after failing to complete several sobriety tests, he was arrested for DWI. Additionally, he was charged with being under the influence of a controlled and dangerous substance and traffic summonses for DWI, reckless driving, driving while suspended, driving an unregistered vehicle, and failing to present current insurance. After processing at headquarters, he was released to a responsible third party pending a future Municipal Court date in Readington Township.
DWI ARREST
Marijuana / Alcohol Arrest
October 8, 2016, Pfc Serrone was on patrol when he observed a 2014 Toyota traveling East on Pleasant Run Rd with no taillights. Pfc Serrone conducted a motor vehicle stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver, Lindsay Berger (age18) of Hillsborough NJ and passenger Samantha Morrison (age 19) of Bridgewater NJ. During his contact with the two subjects, he observed a marijuana grinder in the console of the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed an open bottle of vodka and a glass marijuana pipe. Following the search, Morrison was arrested for possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and paraphernalia. Berger was arrested for underage possession of alcohol. A third person in the vehicle of Pohatcong NJ was released with no charges.