A routine morning patrol turned into a high-stakes Highlands Police Warrant Arrest when an officer’s license plate reader flagged a silver Ford Focus. On August 22, 2023, at approximately 6:52 AM, Catherine Belicose was pulled over near the intersection of Route 36 North and Navesink Avenue in Highlands, New Jersey. What began as a simple stop for a suspended license quickly escalated when dispatch confirmed thousands of dollars in outstanding “Failure to Appear” warrants.
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Watch: Highlands Police Warrant Arrest Caught on Camera
Note: Pay close attention to the timestamp at 00:01:56 where Officer Wojdylak informs his partner that the driver has two active warrants, shifting the tone of the interaction from a civil stop to a criminal arrest.
Full Story: How the Incident Unfolded
The sun was barely up over Highlands, NJ, when Officer Wojdylak initiated a stop on a 2005 Silver Ford Focus. The driver, Catherine Belicose, was immediately frustrated, claiming she was being targeted for issues she believed were already resolved.
“I got my $18,000, which came right here,” Belicose told the officer, referencing a large payment she claimed to have made to the DMV in March 2021. She insisted her license should be active, but the police system showed a different story: her driving privileges were suspended.
While Belicose attempted to call her son for help, officers were busy in the background. Dispatcher Stefanelli returned a grim report: Belicose had a $750 warrant out of Monmouth Beach and a $1,000 warrant out of Sea Bright.
The situation became delicate as officers discussed whether to impound the vehicle. In a moment of professional courtesy, the officers decided to let Belicose give verbal permission for them to move her car to a safe spot on Pape Drive rather than towing it.
“Right now you’re being placed under arrest because you have two warrants,” Officer Wojdylak calmly explained. Belicose was searched and placed into the patrol unit, still maintaining that her legal troubles were a result of DMV errors and unpaid “judgments” that she couldn’t see in the system.
The Arrest: Charges Against Catherine Belicose
| Charge | Simple Explanation | Potential Penalty (US) |
| 39:3-40 | Driving with a Suspended License | Fines, further suspension, and potential jail time for repeat offenses. |
| FTA (Sea Bright) | Failure to Appear in Court ($1,000) | Forfeiture of bail, additional fines, and mandatory court appearance. |
| FTA (Monmouth Beach) | Failure to Appear in Court ($750) | Additional warrants and potential incarceration until bail is met. |
Legal Analysis: Was the Highlands Police Warrant Arrest Justified?
Fourth Amendment Check: The initial stop was based on a suspected violation of New Jersey Statute 39:3-40 (Driving while suspended). Under the Fourth Amendment, police can stop a vehicle if they have “reasonable suspicion” of a crime. Since the officer confirmed the suspension via MDT (Mobile Data Terminal) prior to the stop, the seizure of the vehicle was legally sound.
Police Protocol: Officers Wojdylak, Connor, and Flores followed standard New Jersey “Best Practices” for warrant service. They confirmed the warrants through dispatch before making the arrest. Additionally, the use of Body Worn Cameras (BWC) during the transport provided a clear record of the suspect’s rights being maintained.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Regarding the Highlands Police Warrant Arrest
What does “FTA” stand for in a police report, and how does it lead to an arrest?
“FTA” stands for Failure to Appear. It occurs when a person misses a scheduled court date for a previous citation or offense. When this happens, a judge typically issues an “ATS” (Automated Traffic System) warrant, which allows police to arrest the individual during a subsequent encounter, such as a traffic stop.
Can a driver be arrested if their license is suspended but they claim they paid their fines?
Yes, if the official Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records still show a status of “suspended,” an officer has the legal authority to conduct a stop and issue a summons. Even if a driver claims to have paid significant sums—such as the $18,000 mentioned by the suspect—the license is not considered valid until it is officially reinstated through the DMV and the court system.
What is the difference between a suspended license and a suspended registration?
A suspended license refers to the driver’s legal privilege to operate a vehicle being revoked. A suspended registration means the vehicle itself is not legally allowed to be on the road, often due to a lack of insurance or failure to renew paperwork. In this case, while the driver disputed the status, the officer noted the system showed she was driving while suspended.
What happens when a person has warrants in multiple different towns?
When an individual is arrested with warrants from multiple jurisdictions (such as Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach in this case), the departments must coordinate. Usually, one department may allow the suspect to be released on a “bail recognizance waiver” with a new court date, while the other department may physically take custody of the person for processing at their own headquarters.
Why do police check for “Active Warrants” during a simple traffic stop?
Standard police protocol involves running a driver’s information through databases like the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) or local ATS systems during any routine stop. This is done to ensure there are no outstanding judicial orders or safety concerns associated with the individual being detained.
Conclusion & Current Status
After being processed at Highlands Police Headquarters, the legal resolution began to take shape. The Monmouth Beach Police Department opted to fax over a bail recognizance waiver, providing Belicose with a new court date of September 21, 2023.
However, her day was far from over. Because of the higher-value warrant in Sea Bright, officers from that department arrived at Highlands HQ to take custody of Belicose and transport her to their own headquarters for further processing.
The Ford Focus remained parked on Pape Drive, and Belicose now faces a complex road to regaining her license—one that Officer Wojdylak noted can only begin by showing up to court.
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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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