The recent Totowa Police Chief DUI arrest has sent shockwaves through the local community. A high-ranking law enforcement officer was caught on camera stumbling through sobriety tests after a late-night traffic stop. This viral incident unfolded in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, in the early hours of February 23, 2025.
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Watch: Totowa Police Chief DUI Arrest Caught on Camera
Note: Pay close attention to the timestamp at 00:21:29 where the situation escalates. The arresting officer can be heard saying, “Chief, I’m sorry to do to you,” before placing him in handcuffs.
Full Story: How the Incident Unfolded
The event began around 2:03 AM when Officer Michael Cappello was parked across from the Shore House Bar and Grill. He was monitoring the heavy bar crowd leaving the area. Suddenly, he observed a black Chevrolet Tahoe activate red and blue strobe lights and an emergency siren while driving through the parking lot. Unsure if there was a real emergency, Officer Cappello pulled up next to the driver’s side. He tried to wave and ask if the driver needed assistance. The driver, later identified as 46-year-old Carmen Veneziano, looked at the officer but completely ignored him and drove away.
Officer Cappello and another officer, PO Tuzzolino, began to follow the vehicle. When PO Tuzzolino passed the suspect’s car, he heard someone inside yell “fucking asshole” out the window. The officers tried to stop the car again, but the driver ignored them and rolled right through a red traffic light.
The black SUV struggled to stay on the road. The driver failed to maintain his lane and drove onto the shoulder multiple times. After stopping at another red light, the driver went straight but accidentally drove directly into a left turn lane. Officer Cappello finally initiated a formal motor vehicle stop.
When the officer approached the window, Veneziano handed over a Law Enforcement Identification card. The ID showed that he was the Chief of Police for the Totowa Police Department. However, the officer noted a heavy smell of alcohol on his breath, very slurred speech, and red, watery eyes.
Veneziano admitted he had a “couple of drinks” and agreed to step out for testing. During the One Leg Stand test, he lost his balance and stepped backward, causing the officer to terminate the test early. On the Walk and Turn test, he failed to walk heel-to-toe and did not count his steps out loud as instructed.
Following the failed field tests, Veneziano was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. At the police station, he agreed to provide breath samples using the Alcotest 9510 machine. The breath test results showed a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.241%.
The Arrest: Charges Against Carmen Veneziano
Following the Totowa Police Chief DUI arrest, multiple citations were issued.
| Charge | Simple Explanation | Potential Penalty (US) |
| 39:4-88 +1 | Traffic on marked lanes / Failure to maintain lane. | Not specified in the provided report. |
| 39:4-50 +1 | Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. | Penalties may include fines and license issues, though exact details are determined by the court. |
| 39:4-97 | Careless driving. | Not specified in the provided report. |
| 39:4-96 | Reckless driving. | Not specified in the provided report. |
Legal Analysis: Was the Totowa Police Chief DUI Arrest Justified?
Based on the police report, the initial traffic stop appears legally justified. Officers witnessed the suspect vehicle utilizing unauthorized emergency lights and sirens leaving a bar. Furthermore, the suspect vehicle committed multiple traffic violations, including rolling through a red light and failing to maintain its lane. These actions provided reasonable suspicion for the stop.
Once pulled over, the officers followed standard protocol. They noted physical signs of intoxication, such as slurred speech and an odor of alcohol. They then conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which the suspect failed.
After the arrest, the suspect’s rights were thoroughly respected. At the station, he was read his Miranda Rights, which he understood. The standard 20-minute observation period was conducted before administering the breath test to ensure accurate results.
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5 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that are connected to the charges and circumstances of this specific DUI case
What are the consequences for a law enforcement officer who gets a DUI while driving an official police vehicle?
While the standard criminal charges for a DUI are the same for everyone , a police officer—especially a Chief of Police—driving a municipally owned police vehicle while intoxicated faces severe professional consequences. In addition to the traffic summonses, the officer typically faces an internal affairs investigation, potential suspension, loss of pension, or termination for violating department policies and public trust.
Is it legal for off-duty officers to use emergency lights and sirens for non-emergencies?
No. The use of emergency red and blue strobe lights and sirens is strictly reserved for official law enforcement duties and active emergencies. In this incident, the driver activated lights and sirens while navigating a bar parking lot. Using these emergency tools without a valid reason, especially while under the influence of alcohol, is a severe breach of protocol and can sometimes lead to additional administrative or criminal penalties.
Why does someone else have to sign a “Potential Liability Warning” when picking up a DUI suspect?
Under New Jersey law (often referred to as John’s Law), police departments cannot simply release a severely intoxicated individual back onto the streets. They must be released to a responsible adult. The adult picking them up must sign a “Potential Liability Warning”, which serves as a legal acknowledgment that they accept responsibility for the impaired person and are warned not to let them drive.
Does an exceptionally high BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) result in worse penalties?
Yes. In New Jersey, the legal BAC limit is 0.08%. When a driver provides a breath sample that is exceptionally high—such as the 0.241% to 0.249% recorded in this case —they face “tiered” penalties. A BAC of 0.10% or higher, and especially one over 0.15%, triggers enhanced consequences, which usually include a longer mandatory period for having an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle, higher fines, and a greater chance of license suspension.
Can a driver get their car back immediately after being processed for a DUI?
No. To prevent an intoxicated person from simply returning to their car and driving away, New Jersey law requires that the vehicle (or the keys/key fob) be impounded for a mandatory 12-hour hold. In this specific case, the suspect’s police vehicle was driven to headquarters by another officer , and the key fob was held for the mandatory 12-hour period before the vehicle could be released.
Conclusion & Current Status
Following his processing at the Point Pleasant Police Department, Carmen Veneziano was released to a friend, Brian Beagin. Beagin signed a Potential Liability Warning to take responsibility for him. The keys to the Totowa Police Department vehicle were held for a mandatory 12 hours.
Veneziano was issued a mandatory court date. He is scheduled to appear at the Point Pleasant Municipal Court on April 7, 2025, at 8:30 AM.
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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