20-Year-Old Girl with Crazy Passenger Gets Arrested for DUI | Blue Patrol Bodycam

Around 6:17 PM on May 21, 2023, Patrolman Robert Alvator of the Highlands Police Department was on patrol and he observed a 2009 Dodge Caliber driving in an erratic manner on SR 36 northbound. He proceeded to follow the vehicle, and he noticed the vehicle was swerving and following another vehicle too closely. He proceeded to activate his emergency lights and initiate a traffic stop in the vicinity of Orchard Street and SR 36. As he approached the vehicle, he made contact with the driver, 20-year-old Karina Armando, along with her 24-year-old passenger Olivia Morrow.

Karina told Patrolman Alvator that she was coming from Donovan’s Reef, a popular beachfront bar in nearby Sea Bright, and she admitted to having consumed alcohol in the hours prior. Around this time, Patrolwoman Nicole Curley arrived on scene to assist with the traffic stop. Since Karina license indicated she was under the age of 20, Patrolman Alvator asked her to exit the vehicle so he could perform field sobriety exercises.

As they began the field sobriety exercises, Olivia repeatedly interjected and refused to follow Patrolwoman Curley’s instructions. She told Olivia that if she continued to act belligerent and uncooperative, she may be arrested for obstruction of justice as well. Her boyfriend arrived at the scene and she was eventually permitted to leave with him for safety reasons.

The first field sobriety exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and Karina failed to maintain her balance or raise her foot in the proper fashion. The second field sobriety exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During this exercise, Karina failed to walk heel-to-toe while not walking in a straight line as she was instructed to do so. The third exercise was the Alphabet test, and she recited the alphabet in a slurred manner. The final exercise was the Finger Dexterity test, and Karina only counted sporadically during this test.

Based on her erratic driving patterns, her incoherent statements, and her inability to adequately complete the field sobriety exercises, Patrolman Alvator placed Karina under arrest for driving under the influence. Karina was initially transported by Patrolman Alvator to the Atlantic Highlands Police Department because they were unable to administer the breathalyzer test at their own station. Patrolman Alvator read Karina the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators, and she initially refused to provide samples while subsequently providing an ambiguous response. However, she did invoke her Miranda rights and refused to answer questions related to her arrest.

Patrolman Cunha and Sergeant Elmer at the Atlantic Highlands Police Department logged her refusal to submit breath samples, and Patrolman Alvator escorted her back to his police car. Karina was transported back to the Highlands Police Department for further processing. After Karina was processed, she was released Olivia Morrow’s boyfriend after he signed the Potential Liability Warning form on Karina’s behalf. Patrolman Alvator issued Karina the following summonses: Operating under the influence, refusal to submit to chemical test, reckless driving, traffic on marked lanes, and following too closely.