Crime & Safety
Cops: Pleasantville Driver Was Drunk, Had Previous DWI
A previous conviction upped the Pleasantville woman's charge to a felony in Bedford.
A 26-year-old Pleasantville woman is facing a felony charge of driving while intoxicated after she sped by flashing patrol cars stopped on the shoulder, officials say.
Bedford Police arrested Chelsea Garber at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday near Mount Holly Road on Route 35.
She is accused of accelerating as she passed a two patrol cars—which were sitting on Route 35 with lights flashing as officers conducted a traffic stop—and coming within a few feet of the officers and vehicles.
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Police say she was traveling at about 70 mph in a 40-mph zone. A 2011 law requires drivers to move over and slow down when passing emergency vehicles stopped along the roadway.
Authorities stopped Garber, who was driving a 2012 BMW, and discovered a "strong smell of alcoholic beverage" as well as bloodshot, glassy eyes.
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She reportedly failed field sobriety tests.
Garber, who refused to submit to a chemical test, is facing three traffic infractions, as well as a felony charge of driving while intoxicated. The latter is linked to a prior DWI conviction, police say. Additional details were not available.
After posting $200 bail, Garber was released. She is due Feb. 7 in Bedford Justice Court.
Editor's note: Bedford Police provided the preceding information. It does not indicate a conviction.
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