South Jersey lawmaker testifies he was 'humiliated' by arrest

South Jersey lawmaker said in court Wednesday he was "humiliated" by a Washington Township police officer who arrested him for drunken driving in 2012.

Assemblyman Paul Moriarty — maintaining he was alcohol-free on July 31, 2012 — was the first to testify in the two-week criminal trial of Officer Joseph DiBuonaventura.

DiBuonaventura faces 14 criminal charges related to the DWI arrest, including three counts of false swearing, three counts of falsifying reports, three counts of tampering and several counts of official misconduct.

Moriarty told jurors he felt "targeted" when the officer pulled him over and claimed the lawmaker's blue Nissan Murano cut off the police cruiser on the Black Horse Pike near Greentree Road.

The assemblyman performed a field sobriety test, then was arrested. At the station, Moriarty refused a breath test, telling jurors he "felt like he was being lied to" and "had no faith in the process at that point."

DiBuonaventura had executed his duty to investigate a suspected intoxicated driver, the officer's Atlantic City-based attorney Louis Barbone said in his opening remarks.

According to Moriarty's account of the day, he sang "Happy Birthday" to his mother over the phone, made his teenage daughter breakfast, then paid bills. About 2 p.m., the assemblymen went to Nissan of Turnersville on the Black Horse Pike to discuss a car lease. The dealership, he claimed, was operated by political opponents who campaigned against him the previous year.

When Moriarty left, he was pulled over by DiBuonaventura about a mile from the dealership.

"I was pretty shocked," Moriarty said. "I was aware of my surroundings, driving safely, appropriately.

"Pretty quickly (DiBuonaventura) said, 'Have you been drinking today?'"

Moriarty choked up twice in questioning about the aftermath of his arrest — a "media assault" and attack on his integrity.

Gloucester County Assistant Prosecutor Audrey Curwin plans to prove DiBuonaventura was waiting for Moriarty after receiving a tip on the lawmaker's whereabouts from a detective.

"This is his way to get Moriarty," Curwin explained in her opening statements.

DiBuonaventura had "no reason in the world to get Moriarty," Barbone said.

Moriarty was mayor of Washington Township from 2005 to 2009. DiBuonaventura, who is currently suspended without pay, has been an officer since 1997.

Moriarty admitted his administration had "difficult" contract negotiations with the police union during his tenure, butsaid he only recognized DiBuonaventura by his last name at the time of his arrest.

The officer did what any police officer would do — investigate a report of a drunk driver, Barbone explained.

The attorney claimed DiBuonaventura acted on tips from inside his department.

Detective Lisa Frattali reported to DiBuonaventura by phone that Moriarty was drunk at the Turnersville Nissan dealership, according to Barbone.

Nissan employees and Washington Township Police detectives are expected to take the witness stand.

Moriarty was charged with failure to maintain lanes, refusal to take an alcohol test and driving while intoxicated. The charges were dropped.

In addition to the criminal charges against DiBuonaventura, the Washington Township man faces a civil suit filed last year by Moriarty. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Camden, claims the officer and police department violated Moriarty's constitutional rights.

Moriarty filed another civil lawsuit in Gloucester County Superior Court against Classic Auto, claiming two Nissan dealership employees — Ernie Calvello and general manager John Lasala — made defamatory remarks to police that led to his arrest.

Reach Carly Q. Romalino at (856) 486-2476 and cromalino@courierpostonline.com. Follow @CarlyQRomalino on Twitter.