Man Arrested for 6th DWI: Cops

Police say Sotomayor threw an alcoholic beverage out of his vehicle when he was spotted by police.

A Vineland man who made headlines earlier this year after being arrested for five DWIs in five weeks was arrested yet again for another DWI on Thursday, according to police.

Police say Anderson Sotomayor, 45, was pulled over and arrested at 7th and Chestnut in Vineland. When Sotomayor saw police, investigators say he threw alcoholic beverages out of his vehicle. He was pulled over and arrested.

"As they were going behind him he started discarding objects out of the car which they later determined to be alcoholic beverages," said Lieutenant Matthew Finley of the Vineland Police Department. "He was taken out of the car and was found to be intoxicated again. He was placed under arrest and brought into the station. At the station he refused the breathalizer. Based on this being his sixth DWI arrest in the city within the last couple of months we made contact with the Superior Court Judge because he's out on bail right now on drunk charges for one of the other DWI arrests. Superior Court Judge Swift revoked his bail so he's currently lodged in county jail on a no bail warrant until he's seen by the court." 

Sotomayor was previously arrested for drunken driving on April 9, April 11, April 25, May 12 and May 16.

In the April 9 incident, police say Sotomayor struck a cop car. On April 11, he allegedly struck a utility pole. On April 25, police say they spotted him swerving in the street and found an empty 40-ounce bottle of beer in his car. On May 12, police say he was spotted driving the wrong way down a one-way street, hitting a curb and driving off the street. Finally, on May 16, Sotomayor allegedly swerved out of his lane and refused to take a breathalyzer test after being pulled over. Police also told NBC10 that Sotomayor admitted to using Oxycodone before that incident.

Sotomayor was also arrested on April 2 when police say he ran a stop sign, collided with a school bus as it unloaded kids and fled the scene of the crash.

Before his fifth DWI, Sotomayor still had his license because he had yet to go to court on any of his previous charges, according to police.

"It’s done on a bail schedule and DWI, normally an offense that lets the person be arrested, be released for a responsible party, vehicle impounded for 12 hours, and then they go to court at a later date," said Vineland Police Captain Tom Ulrich.

Sotomayor was taken into custody after his 5th alleged DWI because of the additional drug charge. His bail was increased from $10,000 to $20,000. He posted bail and was released last Sunday, four days before his latest arrest.

In addition to his sixth DWI, police also say he missed a court appearance this morning. He is charged with DWI, refusal of a breathalizer and criminal contempt for missing court. He is currently back in jail.


Fan, follow and download: Get the latest from NBC10.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, our mobile site and NBC Philadelphia. Sign up for our breaking news newsletter. And, get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text PHIBREAKING to 639710 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)

Contact Us