The Evesham Township DUI Arrest of Rachel Newberry began with a chilling sight: a woman rolling on the grass outside a local church as a patrol car sat idling nearby. On June 27, 2025, what started as a suspicious person call at 625 E Main St quickly spiraled into a high-stakes investigation involving alcohol relapse, watery eyes, and a total refusal to cooperate with police.
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Watch: Evesham Township DUI Arrest Caught on Camera
Note: Pay close attention to the timestamp at 00:03:01 where the situation escalates as the suspect repeatedly begs the officer to call her pastor while admitting to her relapse.
Full Story: How the Incident Unfolded
The incident began at approximately 9:03 PM when Sgt. Liggett discovered Rachel Newberry in a state of distress on the grounds of a church. He reported seeing her “rolling around in the grass” before she admitted to him that she had relapsed by drinking alcohol at home and then driving to the church to continue drinking.
When Ptl. Arlotta arrived to assist, he noticed Newberry’s white Lexus sedan was still running in a parking spot. Through the window, he spotted an open green wine bottle sitting in plain view on the passenger floorboard.
As officers began to question her, the Evesham Township DUI Arrest became more certain. Newberry’s breath smelled of alcohol, her speech was slurred, and her eyes appeared bloodshot and watery. Her emotions shifted rapidly from crying to shouting at the responding officers.
During the encounter, Newberry claimed she had purchased the alcohol from a local liquor store before driving to the church parking lot to drink. Despite her admissions, she became increasingly uncooperative when police attempted to perform field sobriety tests.
At the scene, Ptl. Arlotta attempted to conduct a “walk and turn” test. Newberry refused to follow instructions, eventually raising her hands in the air and telling the officer, “Go ahead and arrest me, I don’t give a f***.”
The Arrest: Charges Against Rachel Newberry
| Charge | Simple Explanation | Potential Penalty (NJ) |
| DUI (39:4-50) | Driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor. | Fines, license suspension, and possible jail time. |
| Refusal (39:4-50.4A) | Refusing to submit to a chemical breath test. | Mandatory license suspension and heavy surcharges. |
Legal Analysis: Was the Evesham Township DUI Arrest Justified?
From a legal standpoint, the officers appear to have followed standard protocol. The Fourth Amendment requires “probable cause” for an arrest, which was established by the open alcohol container, the suspect’s physical signs of impairment, and her own admission of driving after drinking.
The search of the vehicle was also likely justified under the “plain view” doctrine, as the officer saw the wine bottle from outside the car while it was in a public parking lot.
Furthermore, the charge of refusal was applied after Newberry was read the “New Jersey Standard Statement” multiple times. Instead of giving a clear “yes” or “no” to the breath test, she repeatedly shouted “protect and serve,” which officers legally categorized as an ambiguous answer and a refusal.
[Read more Evidence Decode investigations here]
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the legal consequences for refusing a breathalyzer test in New Jersey?
Under New Jersey’s “implied consent” law, any person who operates a motor vehicle is deemed to have given consent to a chemical breath test to determine blood alcohol content. If a driver refuses to answer or gives an ambiguous response like “protect and serve” instead of a clear “yes,” they can be charged with Refusal. This charge typically carries penalties similar to a DUI, including mandatory license suspension, heavy fines, and annual insurance surcharges.
Can a driver be arrested for DUI even if the vehicle is parked?
Yes, a person can be charged with a DUI if they are in “physical control” of a vehicle while impaired, even if the car is not in motion. In this case, the suspect’s vehicle was found running while parked in a parking spot. Because the engine was on and the suspect had admitted to driving to that location after drinking, officers had sufficient grounds to proceed with a DUI investigation.
Is an officer allowed to search a vehicle without a warrant during a DUI stop?
Police may search a vehicle without a warrant under several exceptions, such as the “Plain View” doctrine or a “Search Incident to Arrest”. During this incident, the officer observed an open wine bottle on the passenger floorboard in plain view while standing outside the car. This observation, combined with the suspect’s admission of drinking, allowed officers to legally search the vehicle for further intoxicants, leading to the discovery of an empty vodka bottle.
What happens if a suspect is too uncooperative to complete field sobriety tests?
If a suspect refuses to participate in tests or is too uncooperative to follow instructions, officers can still make an arrest based on other “observations”. In this case, the officer noted the odor of alcohol, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and the suspect’s own admission of relapsing. Even though the suspect refused the walk-and-turn test and yelled at officers, the combination of physical signs and the 6-out-of-6 “hits” on the HGN eye test provided enough evidence for the arrest.
To whom can a police department release an adult suspect after a DUI arrest?
New Jersey law often requires a “Potential Liability Warning” (John’s Law) when releasing an individual arrested for DUI to a third party. The person taking custody—in this case, the suspect’s mother—must sign a form acknowledging that they accept responsibility for the suspect and understand they could be held liable if they allow the suspect to operate a vehicle again while still impaired.
Conclusion & Current Status
Following the Evesham Township DUI Arrest, Newberry was processed at police headquarters. Because she was highly uncooperative—yelling and screaming in the booking area—officers were unable to complete the mandatory DUI paperwork with her.
She was eventually released into the custody of her mother, Gail Langford, after a potential liability form was signed. Newberry was issued four traffic citations and provided with resources for alcohol addiction at her own request.
Download Police Report click here.
Disclaimer: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This report is based on official police records.
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