A high-speed traffic stop in New Jersey quickly escalated into a tense legal battle over car keys and racial profiling allegations.
The Monmouth Beach DWI Arrest of Gloria Fowlkes-Reda began with a radar gun reading 63 mph but ended with a heated confrontation in a dark parking lot. What started as a standard traffic enforcement for speeding spiraled when officers detected the “odor of an alcoholic beverage” coming from the vehicle. The situation reached its boiling point not during the sobriety tests, but when officers attempted to confiscate the driver’s keys under state law, leading to accusations of harassment.
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Watch: Monmouth Beach DWI Arrest Caught on Camera
Note: Pay close attention to the timestamp at 00:28:06 where the situation escalates. The suspect refuses to hand over her keys, claiming the officer is “picking on the only black woman who lives here”.
Full Story: How the Incident Unfolded
The incident occurred late at night on February 10, 2024. Officer Golembieski of the Monmouth Beach Police Department was on patrol when he spotted a red 2020 Toyota Camry speeding.
The Chase and The Stop
According to the police report, the vehicle was clocked at 63 mph in a 40 mph zone. The officer turned to follow, observing the car make a “quick and sharp left turn” before accelerating rapidly down Central Road. The driver then blew through a stop sign in the Wharfside Drive parking lot before finally parking.
When the officer approached, he noted the driver, Gloria Fowlkes-Reda, struggled to find the window button. He immediately smelled alcohol. When asked if she had been drinking, Fowlkes-Reda admitted to having “one drink” around 9:00 PM.
The Field Sobriety Tests
The officer asked Fowlkes-Reda to step out for tests. She seemed confused about the process but agreed.
- The Eye Test (HGN): The officer looked for involuntary eye jerking. He reported finding “6/6 clues” of impairment, noting she lacked “smooth pursuit” in her eyes.
- The Walk and Turn: Fowlkes-Reda was instructed to walk a straight line. The report states she “missed heel to toe on multiple steps” and made an improper turn.
- The One Leg Stand: She was asked to lift one foot. Officers reported she swayed and put her foot down, showing 3 out of 4 clues of impairment.
The Argument Over Keys
The most dramatic moment came after the arrest. The officer informed Fowlkes-Reda that her car would be towed and he needed her keys. She refused.
“I’m not allowing you to take my [keys],” she argued, insisting she was on her own property. When the officer explained the tow truck driver needed them, she replied, “No, the law doesn’t say you can take my keys… You just took my keys illegally”.
Fowlkes-Reda then accused the officer of targeting her. “Why are you only just picking on the only black woman who lives here?” she asked. The officer denied this, stating he was arresting her for impaired driving.
The Arrest: Charges Against Fowlkes-Reda
The Monmouth Beach DWI Arrest resulted in multiple citations. Below is a breakdown of the specific statutes cited in the report.
| Charge | Simple Explanation | Potential Penalty (NJ) |
| 39:4-50 | Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) | License loss, fines, IDRC classes. |
| 39:4-50.2 | Refusal to Submit to Breath Test | Automatic license suspension (7 months to 1 year). |
| 39:4-98 | Speeding | Fines and points on license (double in 65 zones/construction). |
| 39:4-144 | Failure to Stop | Fine and 2 points on license. |
| 39:4-96 | Reckless Driving | Up to 60 days jail, fines, 5 points. |
| 39:4-97 | Careless Driving | Fines and 2 points. |
Legal Analysis: Was the Monmouth Beach DWI Arrest Justified?
Fourth Amendment Check: The Stop
The initial stop appears legally sound based on the police report. The officer had Reasonable Suspicion due to two specific infractions:
- Radar Confirmation: The vehicle was clocked at 63 mph in a 40 mph zone.
- Traffic Violation: The driver disregarded a stop sign in the parking lot.
Courts generally uphold stops where a traffic violation is observed, regardless of the location (public road vs. accessible private parking lot).
The “Illegal” Key Seizure?
Fowlkes-Reda claimed the officer took her keys illegally. However, New Jersey has a specific statute known as John’s Law. The transcript shows the officer explicitly mentioned, “You just got to 17 for John’s Law”.
John’s Law (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.22) requires police to impound the vehicle of a person arrested for DWI for at least 12 hours. This grants officers the authority to secure the vehicle for towing, which includes taking the keys to facilitate the tow.
Refusal to Blow
At the station, Fowlkes-Reda refused to provide breath samples. In New Jersey, driving is considered “implied consent.” Refusing a breathalyzer is a separate offense that carries mandatory penalties, often as severe as the DWI itself.
[Read more Evidence Decode investigations here]
Here are 5 FAQs connected to the charges and legal conflicts in this specific case:
Can police arrest you for a traffic violation on private property?
Yes, under certain circumstances. In this case, the suspect argued she was on “private property” because she lived in the apartment complex. However, the officer’s report states the initial speeding violation (63 mph in a 40 mph zone) was observed on Ocean Avenue, a public road. Additionally, New Jersey traffic laws regarding intoxicated driving and stop signs can often be enforced in “quasi-public” areas like shared parking lots, especially when the pursuit began on a public street.
What is “John’s Law” and why did the officer mention it?
“John’s Law” (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.22) is a New Jersey statute that requires police to impound the vehicle of a driver arrested for DWI for a minimum of 12 hours. In the transcript, when the suspect refused to give up her keys and claimed the officer was acting illegally, the officer explicitly cited “17 for John’s Law” as the legal authority to take custody of the vehicle and keys to facilitate the tow.
Is it a separate crime to refuse a breathalyzer test?
Yes. The suspect was charged with violating 39:4-50.2, which is the “Refusal to Submit to Breath Test” statute. By driving on New Jersey roads, drivers give “implied consent” to these tests. During the incident, the officer read the standard statement requesting samples, but the suspect refused to provide them, leading to an additional charge alongside the DWI.
Why do officers conduct the “Eye Test” (HGN) first?
The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test checks for involuntary jerking of the eyes, which is a sign of impairment that a suspect cannot easily control. In this report, the officer noted “6/6 clues” of impairment, including a “lack of smooth pursuit” in the suspect’s eyes before asking her to walk or balance. This provided the officer with initial probable cause to continue with the Walk-and-Turn and One-Leg Stand tests.
Can a suspect be charged with DWI even if they only admit to “one drink”?
Yes. While the suspect repeatedly stated she had “just the one drink” around 9:00 PM, officers rely on the totality of evidence, not just the driver’s statement. The arrest decision was based on observed speeding (63 mph), the odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and poor performance on field sobriety tests (such as stepping off the line and swaying), rather than the admitted number of drinks.
Conclusion & Current Status
Following the Monmouth Beach DWI Arrest, Gloria Fowlkes-Reda was processed at the police station. She refused to sign the Miranda Warning card and continued to refuse breath samples.
She was eventually released into the custody of her mother, Bliss Fowlkes, who signed a potential liability form. The vehicle remained impounded under John’s Law. Fowlkes-Reda faces serious charges in municipal court, including DWI and Refusal to Submit to Chemical Testing.
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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