School board president charged with DWI

According to police report, Clarke declined
to take breath test

BY SHERRY CONOHAN
Staff Writer

According to police report, Clarke declined
to take breath test

BY SHERRY CONOHAN

Staff Writer

A barefoot Pamela Clarke, president of the Eatontown Board of Education, was arrested on Route 36, near Hope Road, and charged with driving while intoxicated and refusing to take a Breathalyzer test.

Clarke also was charged with reckless driving, failure to maintain lane and failure to exhibit documents in the motor vehicle stop by Tinton Falls police Officer Gerard Dolan at 1:39 a.m. on May 7. She was driving a 1995 red BMW convertible at the time, according to the police report.

Dolan said he was facing east on the Garden State Parkway off-ramp when he observed Clarke stopped in the inner lane of the southbound lanes of Hope Road. He said when the light turned green, she made a left turn onto Route 36, crossing over the white painted line designating the shoulder of the roadway.

He said he followed her past the Route 18 exit ramp and stopped her prior to Grant Avenue.

Dolan said that he detected the "strong odor" of an alcoholic beverage on Clarke’s breath when she spoke, and that her eyes were bloodshot and watery. He said her feet were wide apart for balance and she was swaying while she stood.

Dolan handcuffed Clarke and took her to the police station, where she refused the breath test.

He said Clarke asked that he call a friend of hers and said that she was the "board president."

He said he advised her that she did not have the right to consult with her attorney during the breath test. "When she asked, ‘I can’t call him first?,’ I replied, ‘No, you can’t,’ " Dolan reported.

He said he told Clarke that he needed a "yes" or "no" answer about whether she would take the breath test.

According to Dolan, Clarke responded, "I’m not sure. I don’t understand," and asked, "Can we call my attorney?" He said he then turned off the Breathalyzer and advised Clarke of her Miranda rights.

He said that after he put Clarke in his car, another police officer retrieved her registration and insurance card from her vehicle. Her car was taken away by the impound truck, he said.

Clarke is scheduled to appear in Tinton Falls Municipal Court on June 11 at 8 a.m.

When asked about the charges, Clarke said that, on the advice of her attorney — Peter Rozano of Hoboken — she had no comment.