Gym Teacher Unable to Balance Herself during DWI Arrest

On July 30, 2022 around 3:14 AM, Officer Phil Longo of the Sparta Township Police Department spotted a dark colored Hyundai Tucson driven by Christine Aschoff (age 27) tailgating a dark colored pickup truck. He also observed the vehicle failing to maintain its lane. As he closed the distance between his vehicle and the Tucson, he advised dispatch that he would be stopping the vehicle in front of Sparta Eye Associates on Sparta Avenue and initiated the traffic stop. As he approached the Tucson from the passenger’s side and requested her documentation, he immediately detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the interior of the vehicle.

The driver, Ms. Aschoff, provided him with a valid license and registration. While she was looking for her insurance card, Mr. Aschoff explained she was going home to Newton, NJ from the Horse Shoe Tavern in Morristown, NJ. When he asked Ms. Aschoff whether she had anything to drink, she stated “Yes” and that she had consumed about two drinks. Eventually, the officer was able to locate the insurance card. While speaking with her, he observed that Ms. Aschoff’s speech was slurred. Subsequently, he advised dispatch that he would need another unit to conduct balance tests. The officer subsequently requested Ms. Aschoff to exit the vehicle for additional questioning. Ms. Aschoff informed him that she had two “Dirty Shirley” drinks, and she stopped drinking about 12:30 AM. Sgt. Shomp, Cpl. Lippencott, and Officer M. Poon arrived at the scene to assist. Cpl. Lippencott conducted the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test before Officer Longo explained and demonstrated all of the balance tests.

On the HGN test, Cpl. Lippencott informed Officer Longo that Ms. Aschoff exhibited 6 out of 6 possible indicators. During the Walk and Turn test, Ms. Aschoff took approximately 15 steps without turning around, instead of the 9 steps as instructed. While taking the steps, she could not walk heel to toe, and Cpl. Lippencott had to catch her on multiple occasions to ensure she Ms. Aschoff did not fall to the ground. Ms. Aschoff also failed to adequately perform the one leg stand test. Based on the observed motor vehicle violations, the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her mouth, her admission to consuming alcoholic beverages, and her inability to perform the field sobriety tests, Officer Longo placed Ms. Aschoff under arrest for DWI. She was handcuffed, searched, and advised of her Miranda Rights.

At Police HQ, Ms. Aschoff agreed to take the breathalyzer test. The Alcotest 7110 MKIII-C reported breath test results of .15% BAC, which is almost double the legal limit. Ms. Aschoff was subsequently advised of her motor vehicle summonses and mandatory court date, and also given copies of her drinking and driving questionnaire and the Alcotest report. Ms. Aschoff was issued the following tickets: Driving While Intoxicated, Following Too Closely, Traffic on Marked Lanes, Careless Driving, and Failure to Notify DMV of Address Change. After Ms. Aschoff was processed and held at Sparta Township Police HQ, she was subsequently released to her friend Brett Schiller after he signed the Potential Liability Warning form. 

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