Woman Arrested for DUI in a School Playground | Blue Patrol *Police Bodycam*

Around 2:21 AM on January 29, 2023, Officer Edward Jennings with the Middletown Township Police Department observed a 2020 Honda Civic swerving and traveling at a high rate of speed in the vicinity of Route 36 and Thompson Avenue. As the vehicle approached Main Street, the driver made a right turn at the traffic light without signaling. He continued following the vehicle on Main Street, and the driver eventually stopped in the parking lot of the Port Monmouth Elementary School. Officer Jennings proceeded to activate his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, who was identified as 28-year-old Mikala Minix.

He asked Mikala for her license, registration, and insurance, but she seemed confused. He also detected the odor of alcohol as he was speaking with her. Around this time, Officer Kenneth Ross arrived on scene to conduct field sobriety testing. Upon further questioning, Mikala admitted to having been with friends earlier that night after leaving work at Char Steakhouse in Red Bank. She also told Officer Ross that she had consumed alcohol before operating her vehicle.

Based on their suspicion of impairment, Officer Jennings asked Mikala to exit the vehicle and asked her to perform field sobriety exercises. Officer Ross had Mikala walk over to a level surface and started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Officer Ross observed a lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Mikala failed to walk heel-to-toe and walked more than the 9 steps she was instructed to take. The third exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and Mikala was unable raise her foot in the proper fashion while displaying a lack of balance.

Based on her erratic driving patterns, the odor of alcohol on her person, and her inability to adequately complete the field sobriety exercises, Officer Jennings placed Mikala under arrest for driving under the influence. Her vehicle was searched and impounded for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law. Officer Jennings subsequently transported Mikala to Middletown Township Police Headquarters for initial processing.

At police HQ, Mikala was read her Miranda rights and refused to answer questions. She continued to be uncooperative and continued to argue with the officers. Patrolman Ross conducted a 20-minute observation and read her the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators, but Mikala ultimately refused to submit breath samples for testing. She was issued the following summonses: Operating under the influence, refusal to submit to chemical test, reckless driving, careless driving, traffic on marked lanes, and failure to give proper signal.