Car Accident Leads to DUI Arrest
On July 19, 2026, Officer Anthony Pizzola was traveling eastbound on Pleasant Valley Road when he observed a dark-colored BMW SUV traveling westbound at a high rate of speed. Officer Pizzola then turned around to catch up to the vehicle and initiate a motor vehicle stop but lost sight of it. Shortly thereafter, officers located the vehicle on Route 31 after it had been involved in a single-vehicle crash. All three occupants were outside the vehicle when officers arrived on scene. One of the occupants identified himself as the driver. While speaking with him, Officer Pizzola observed signs of intoxication and asked him to perform standardized field sobriety tests. Based on Pizzola’s observations and the driver’s performance on the tests, Officer Pizzola arrested him for driving under the influence. During a search incident to arrest, officers found a small zip-lock bag containing a suspected controlled dangerous substance (CDS) on his person. He was transported to HTPD headquarters for processing and breath testing. Before being released from custody, he was charged with Possession of CDS, Driving Under the Influence, Reckless Driving, Careless Driving, Possession of an Open Container of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle, Failure to Maintain Lane, and Possession of CDS in a Motor Vehicle. The criminal charge will be heard in Mercer County Superior Court, while the motor vehicle summonses will be heard in Hopewell Township Municipal Court.
Farm Stand Theft Caught on Camera
On July 20, 2026, Officer Brandon Kuzma responded to a farm stand on Trenton Harbourton Rd for a reported theft. The victim stated that an unidentified male, operating a gray Land Rover with a New Jersey registration, took several items from the self-service produce stand without paying. The victim provided video surveillance footage, which showed the male pretending to place money in the designated payment box and then leaving with the produce. The total value of the stolen items was estimated at $68.00. Officer Kuzma checked the vehicle’s registration and identified the individual after further follow-up investigation. The male was subsequently contacted and agreed to return to the farm stand and pay for the items in full. He was barred from returning to the stand thereafter. After payment was received, the victim declined to pursue criminal charges related to the theft.
Pipe Detector Missing from Job Site
Officer Blake Demeter responded to HTPD for a walk-in report of theft on July 22, 2026. The reporting party stated that a lime-green Ditch Witch utility locator belonging to UtiliQuest was missing from a job site on Morningside Drive. He advised that he had inadvertently left the equipment at the site at approximately 4:00 p.m. on July 16th and had discovered it missing the following morning. The equipment was valued at approximately $2,000. Officer Demeter conducted a canvass of the surrounding neighborhood but was unable to locate the missing machine. The matter remains under investigation.
License Plate Stolen from Trailer
On July 24, 2026, Officer Arthur Juba responded to a residence on Harbourton Woodsville Rd for a report of a stolen license plate. The victim stated that the license plate was missing from his trailer, which had been parked in the backyard between two other trailers for approximately three weeks. He further reported that the bolts previously used to secure the plate remained attached to the trailer and appeared to have been retightened after the plate was removed. The license plate was entered into a law enforcement database as stolen. The matter remains under investigation.
Traffic Stop Leads to DUI
Officer Jack Lane was on routine patrol near West Broad St in Hopewell Borough on July 25, 2026 when he conducted a random registration inquiry on a gray Mazda SUV. The inquiry revealed that the registered owner’s driver’s license had expired. Officer Lane then initiated a motor vehicle stop and identified the driver as the vehicle’s registered owner. While speaking with her, Officer Lane observed signs of intoxication and open containers of alcohol in plain view inside the vehicle. He then requested that she perform standardized field sobriety tests and, based on his observations and her performance on the tests, arrested her for driving under the influence. She was transported to HTPD headquarters for processing and breath testing. Upon arrival at the station, she refused to comply with instructions to provide breath samples. Before being released from custody, she was charged with Driving Under the Influence, Refusal to Submit to Breath Testing, Reckless Driving, Driving With an Expired License, and Possession of an Open Container of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle. The matter will be heard in Hopewell Borough Municipal Court.
Invalid Inspection Sticker Leads to Arrest
On July 28, 2026, Officer George Peterson was conducting a traffic enforcement detail on Route 518 when he observed a white box truck traveling eastbound without a valid inspection sticker. Officer Peterson initiated a motor vehicle stop and identified the driver. A check of his driver’s license revealed an active warrant issued by Oklahoma County. The driver was arrested on the outstanding warrant and transported to HTPD headquarters for processing. Following processing, he was transported to the Mercer County Correctional Center, where he was lodged pending extradition. He was issued a motor vehicle summons for Failure to Have a Diesel Inspection Sticker. The traffic matter will be heard in Hopewell Borough Municipal Court.
Traffic Stop leads to Warrant Arrest
Officer Anthony Pizzola was conducting routine patrol near Route 31 and Ingleside Ave on July 31, 2026 when he observed a gray Mercedes-Benz sedan with heavily tinted windows traveling southbound on Route 31. Officer Pizzola initiated a motor vehicle stop for the observed violation. Upon stopping the vehicle, a check of the vehicle’s registration revealed an active warrant issued by the City of Trenton for the registered owner. Officer Piizzola identified the driver of the vehicle as the owner and arrested him on the outstanding warrant. He was transported to HTPD headquarters for processing, after which he was given a new date to appear in Trenton Municipal Court and released on his own recognizance.
