WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE By John F. Bailey. October 23, 2008: Nineteen days Before last Sunday's fatal hit and run accident in Haviland Lane in White Plains, Sheldene Campbell, the person charged with leaving the scene of that fatal accident, was involved a police chase through three New Jersey communities.
New Jersey Police monitored Ms. Campbell on a controlled pursuit from Old Tappan through the New Jersey communities of Park Ridge, Montvale and ending in Woodcliff Lake, a distance of about 10 miles Tuesday September 30, between 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM, September 30, according to Woodcliff Lake Police Chief, Anthony Jannicelli, speaking to WPCNR today.
Ms. Campbell was charged with Driving Under the Influence in the New Jersey pursuit, when a drug expert observed her behavior as consistent with drug induced symptoms, according to the Chief, toxicoilogy results are being awaited. The Chief said he immediately directed his arresting officers to notify White Plains Police of the New Jersy incident this past Monday, upon learning of the White Plains fatality.
Chief Jannicelli said when Ms. Campbell was arrested, his department found no criminal record or warrants on her outstanding, and presently the Woodcliff Lake Police Department has no warrant on her, because her papers have already been served on her for charges stemming from the Old Tappan to Woodcliff Lake incidents.
Woodcliff Lake Police Chief William Jannicelli told WPCNR News today his department first became aware of Ms. Campell when she had put her grandmother and 9 year old son out of her car in Old Tappan when Tappan Police reported that incident over the universal dispatch system in effect in Bergen County. He said Old Tappan has charged her in relation to that case.
Jannicelli said, Campbell’s subsequent progress through the three towns was followed on the police central dispatch system, and during Ms. Campell’s “erratic” driving, citizens reported to police she had run over a person’s lawn and a jogger reported just missed being hit by the red SUV Ms. Campbell was driving at the time. Jannicelli said his officers saw Ms. Campbell turn onto the Garden State Parkway where they apprehended her.
In the car with Campbell, the chief said was a three year old girl, her daughter. The chief reported Ms. Campbell upon her arrest , was given a breathalyzer test, which was negative, however a drug expert suggested she be sent to Bergen Regional Hospital for evaluation. Jannicelli said they are awaiting toxicology tests back. Campbell, he said spent a week in Bergen Hospital.
A spokesperson for the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office asked if the warrant on Ms. Campbell that emerged Tuesday, had anything to do with the Woodcliff Lake incident, said he could not confirm whether the warrant as reported by the Journal News, was related to the incidents in Old Tappan and Woodcliff Lake. Previously the District Attorney’s office contacted by media would not disclose the nature of the warrant on Ms. Campbell.
A call is in to Old Tappan Police to see whether the warrant was issued by the Old Tappan Department.
Ms. Campbell’s unexplained reckless driving from Old Tappan to Woodcliff Lake occurred 19 days before the fatal hit and run accident in White Plains Sunday.
White Plains Police Wednesday afternoon say they are continuing to investigate the fatal accident Sunday in which pedstrian Marie Bucci, 65 died and in a separate incident, Roseanne Schiavone, 45, was injured.
White Plains Police have said that at this point they do not have information on what Ms. Campbell who is charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident in connection with the accident, was doing in the Havilands Lane area. The Police say there were no other persons with her in the car at the time of the White Plains accident. They report no alcohol was involved.
