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Tenafly Police: Officers Break Window To Remove Resisting DWI Driver From Car

Tenafly officers had to break a window to get an argumentative – and suspended -- drunk driver out of his car after it swerved toward oncoming traffic, authorities said Wednesday.

Tenafly police

Tenafly police

Photo Credit: Jerry DeMarco

Officer Maxwell Werner was following the Toyota sedan when it swerved into the opposite lane on East Clinton Avenue near Buckingham Road just after 1 a.m. Saturday, Capt. Michael deMoncada said.

The driver, 26-year-old Manolo Morales of Ramapo, “was argumentative and refused to provide his identification and vehicle documents” after Werner pulled him over, deMoncada said.

Werner smelled alcohol and saw evidence of drug use in the vehicle, the captain said.

Backups arrived, he said, and “despite their best efforts to convince [Morales] to exit the vehicle peacefully…were forced to break the driver’s window to gain access and unlock the door.”

Morales “continued to be belligerent towards officers, refused to provide breath samples, and was uncooperative during his processing” at headquarters, deMoncada said.

He eventually was processed and charged with resisting arrest, obstruction and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Police also issued Morales summonses for DWI, refusing to submit to a breath test, failing to maintain a lane, careless driving and driving while on the suspended list.

They released him to a responsible adult under John’s Law.

deMoncada urged citizens to report suspected drunk or unsafe drivers to their local police departments immediately -- for own their safety and that of others. 

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