Police: New Jersey Man Arrested For 5th DWI In 38 Days
By Robin Rieger
VINELAND, N.J. (CBS) – A New Jersey man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly driving while intoxicated – it is his fifth arrest for DWI in the past 38 days.
Authorities say 45-year-old Anderson Sotomayor was arrested at about noon on Wednesday during a traffic stop at Park and Crystal Avenues in Vineland. A call was received by a concerned citizen that the suspect was operating a motor vehicle in the area. An officer observed the driver weaving in the lane of travel and stopped him. Police say an open alcoholic beverage was observed in plain view and Sotomayor was arrested for DWI.
According to police, during the investigation, Sotomayor allegedly told officers he was using Oxycodone without a prescription and he refused to take a breathalyzer test. Sotomayor was charged with illegal use of CDS, DWI, Reckless Driving, failure to maintain lane and having an open container of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle.
Investigators say Sotomayor was arrested for DWI on April 9th. The subsequent arrests happened on April 11th, April 25th, May 12th and Wednesday. (See Previous Story)
In two of the DWI arrests, authorities say Sotomayor struck police cruisers and in the April 25th arrest, police say officers saw him cross the yellow line into oncoming traffic on busy Delsea Drive, almost hitting a cruiser. Police say the officer issued him 11 citations, including allegedly having an open 40 ounce beer and not having insurance or registration.
According to motor vehicle records, Sotomayor has had his license suspended 23 times since 1985.
Sotomayor still maintained his driver's license and as the law stands now, police can only keep arresting, but have no power to revoke a license until a DWI suspect has their first court date.
Sotomayor was scheduled for a court appearance for the previous DWI's on May 30th.
Because Sotomayor was charged Wednesday with the use of an illegal controlled substance, the judge was able to send him to Cumberland County Jail on $10,000 full cash bail.
