Cop’s Daughter Gets Arrested for DWI after Fleeing Accident Scene

Around 11:00 PM on December 28, 2022, officers from the Howell Township Police Department were called to the scene of a hit-and-run accident on Lanes Mill Road near the side entrance to Lowe’s. As Patrolman Travis Horton and SLEO 2 Officer Eric Lee approached the scene, they observed that the traffic light pole had been struck and it was blocking the westbound lane of traffic. Near the traffic light pole, officers found what appeared to be a missing piece of a bumper from the vehicle which struck the pole. After the Police arrived at the scene, the caller approached the Police and told the officers that a vehicle appearing to be a white sedan had struck the traffic light pole.

Patrolman Vincent Campagnola eventually located the suspect vehicle at the Wawa on Kent Road. The driver, 21-year-old Teresa Lee, told the officers that she was coming from Applebee’s and that she had consumed alcohol, but denied striking the traffic light pole. She mentioned that she had previously struck a deer in Pennsylvania and asked to call her father John Lee, who is an officer with the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office. As the officers continued to question her and the officers who responded the accident scene arrived at the Wawa with the missing bumper piece, she eventually admitted to possibly striking the traffic light pole while she was texting.

Her account of events did not seem to be coherent or truthful, but officers continued to question her to gather information. Eventually, officers allowed her to call her father, who arrived on scene at the Wawa within a few minutes. Once Mr. Lee was at the scene, he confirmed that Teresa had previously struck a deer in Pennsylvania but agreed that the damage to the passenger side could not have been from that incident. Given his position with the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Mr. Lee was advised by another officer to not interfere with their investigation, and he does not appear to do so in any of the videos.

Given their suspicion of intoxication, Patrolman Horton asked Teresa to perform standardized field sobriety exercises. The first exercise was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During this test, Officer Doherty observed a lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees in both eyes. The second exercise involved the Walk and Turn test, and Teresa was unable to walk in a straight line or and she conducted an improper turn. The third exercise involved the One Leg Stand test, and Teresa did not raise her foot in the proper fashion while spreading her arms to balance herself.

Based on the physical and circumstantial evidence regarding the accident and her inability to adequately perform the field sobriety exercises, Patrolman Horton placed Teresa under arrest for driving under the influence. After she was placed under arrest, she was transported to Howell Township Police HQ. At the station, Teresa was read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators and she agreed to provide breath samples. Her Alcotest results showed a BAC of 0.172%, which is more than double the legal limit.

After Teresa was processed, she was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. She was issued the following summonses: Operating under the influence, reckless driving, failure to report an accident, and leaving the scene of an accident