A late-night traffic stop in Monmouth Beach, New Jersey, spiraled into a dramatic DUI investigation after a driver was spotted erratically swerving her Audi Q5. Upon contact, the officer immediately noticed signs of severe impairment, including the odor of alcohol and delayed, hoarse speech. The situation intensified when the suspect, Katarzyna Soares, repeatedly begged the officer, “please don’t do this to me” and “just give me a break.” The ensuing field sobriety tests revealed overwhelming signs of intoxication, leading to a police arrest.
Table of Contents
What Happened Before Police Arrived
The incident occurred late on April 19, 2025. Patrolman Golembieski of the Monmouth Beach Police Department was conducting uniformed patrol northbound on Ocean Avenue. It was approximately 10:16 PM.
The officer first observed a dark-colored SUV heading south. The suspect’s actions immediately raised concern:
- The vehicle swerved to the right and crossed over the solid white shoulder line with both passenger-side tires.
- After the officer performed a U-turn, the vehicle was seen swerving continuously within its lane, drifting from the center yellow lines to the shoulder line.
- The swerving involved “jerky deliberate movements.”
- The vehicle crossed the white shoulder line two more times, near Central Road and Cottage Road.
- Finally, the vehicle crossed the solid double yellow lines with its driver’s side tires.
Believing the driver was impaired, the officer initiated a traffic stop.
Police Arrival & Key Bodycam Moments
The vehicle stopped just south of Ocean Avenue and Beach Road. Officer Golembieski, who had his body worn camera (BWC) activated for the duration of the incident, approached the passenger side of the black Audi Q5.
Key Bodycam Moments:
- Strange Driving/Behavior: As the officer approached, the driver activated the rear windshield wiper, which was strange because it had not rained all day.
- Odor and Appearance: The officer immediately detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage and noticed the driver’s bloodshot, watery eyes and droopy eyelids.
- Delayed Responses: When asked about her night, the driver didn’t respond the first time. Her speech was hoarse, slow, and delayed. She first claimed she was coming from a friend’s house in Belmar but later changed her story to say she came from “the bar or something.”
- Pleading & Confusion: While retrieving documents, she handed the officer three registration cards before finally giving the insurance. Throughout, she pleaded: “Please don’t do this to me” and “just give me a break.”
- Failed Sobriety Tests:
- HGN: All 6 clues plus VGN. She swayed and moved her head despite instructions.
- Walk & Turn: 8/8 clues. She lost balance, stepped off the line, stopped walking, missed steps, and started early.
- One Leg Stand: 3/4 clues. She swayed, raised arms, put her foot down six times, and asked the officer to count for her.
Based on these observations, Ms. Soares was placed under police arrest for DWI.
Charges & Legal Explanation
The driver was issued the following citations:
| Statute | Charge Applied | Legal Meaning (Simple) |
|---|---|---|
| 39:4-50 | Driving While Intoxicated (DWI/DUI) | Operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. |
| 39:4-96 | Reckless Driving | Driving with deliberate disregard for safety. |
| 39:4-97 | Careless Driving | Driving without due caution, endangering others. |
| 39:4-88B | Failure to Maintain Lane | Not staying within a single marked lane. |
The breath test later revealed a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.246, more than three times the legal limit of 0.08%.
Expert Opinion Section
The officers acted correctly and professionally:
- The stop was based on clear signs of impairment and traffic violations.
- The officer noted multiple impairment clues during the sobriety tests, establishing overwhelming probable cause for arrest.
- A female officer was requested to perform the search, following best practices.
- The mandatory 20-minute observation period before breath testing was correctly performed.
- The suspect was read her Miranda Rights and her decision to remain silent was properly documented.
Final Outcome / What Happened in the End
After the arrest, Ms. Soares was transported to the Monmouth Beach Police Department for processing.
- Final BAC: 0.246
- Vehicle Outcome: Her Audi Q5 was impounded under New Jersey’s mandatory 12-hour DWI hold rule.
- Release: She was released into the custody of Aprilann Laduca, who was warned of legal penalties if she allowed the suspect to drive while intoxicated.
The case was marked Completed on April 23, 2025.