Samaritan tails, calls in, admitted drunk driver
A patrol officer responded to a call of a possible drunk driver driving west on Prospect June 6 just before 9:30 p.m., where the caller was following the suspect with his hazard lights on.
In the area of Rock Avenue, Hillsdale, a police sergeant located the reported car, got behind it, flashed his lights, then effected a stop in front of 192 Park Ave.
In speaking with the driver, 61, of Quail Run in Old Tappan, the officer immediately detected the odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from within the car. The driver’s eyes appeared bloodshot and watery. His hand motions appeared slow and fumbling, and he could not find all of his credentials.
When more officers arrived, they initiated a pre-exit test, which the suspect could not complete, and field sobriety tests, to similar effect. The suspect told police he could not complete the tests because he was intoxicated.
Meanwhile, the citizen who had called police informed them that the suspect had been driving at about 20 miles per hour, had been drifting from one side of the road to the other, and had nearly struck a curb and motorcycle in Old Tappan. The citizen declined to sign complaints.
The suspect’s car—a 2018 black BMW 750i sedan—was towed and impounded. The suspect was taken to headquarters, where he was observed and then administered a breath test.
His summonses are DWI, DWI in a school zone, reckless driving, and failure to possess registration, failure to possess insurance, failure to keep right, and delaying traffic. His court date was June 12.
Police call DPW over rain flooding on Park Avenue
The rain deluge of May 30 left Park Avenue at Vitmar Place flooded and, in the opinion of a patrol officer, unsafe to drive on.
According to the police report, the officer found Park Avenue in such shape as passage was one at a time, requiring crossing of the double yellow line.
“The flood water also submerged Mr. [Troy] Manheimer’s lawn from the street to the rear of his property. Because of the these circumstances [another officer] assisted me in closing down that portion of the street for the safety of all drivers until the water level receded,” the report says.
It adds, “Mr. Manheimer expressed his displeasure about the roadway and stated that this condition happens frequently.”
After approximately 20 minutes the water receded such that vehicles could pass safely.
Police said they left a voicemail with the general supervisor of the DPW.
Gasoline fire on driveway was for marshmallows
Police responded to an Oak Avenue home for a fire call June 1 just after 9 p.m. over a blaze reported in the driveway that had since been extinguished.
On arrival, police saw the homeowner washing down his driveway with a hose. A fire pit was burning in the driveway.
The resident reported that he had used a small amount of gasoline to ignite the pit so his daughters could roast marshmallows. In the process, gasoline on the driveway ignited. The resident said that’s when he called for help.
Police turned the scene over to the Fire Department. The pit was extinguished. There were no injuries and there was no property damage.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Class B fires involve ignitable liquids or gases such as petroleum grease, alcohol, paint, propane, and gasoline.
Water is not appropriate for extinguishing such fires, the USFA says—the stream of water might spread the flaming material rather than extinguish it.
Class B fires should be extinguished using foam, powder, or carbon dioxide extinguishers, according to the Fire Equipment Manufacturer’s Association. These extinguishers cut off a fire’s oxygen supply.
Plate check turns up hit on expired registration
An officer patrolling south on Pascack Road on June 5 just before midnight conducted a random InfoCop inquiry on a car registered in New York, turning up a suspended registration.
The officer reports he activated his emergency lights and effected a motor vehicle stop on Pascack Road in front of Our Lady of Mercy Church.
The suspension turned out to be for an insurance lapse. The officer advised the driver, of West 164th Street, that he would be impounding his vehicle.
Further, the defendant was issued a summons for driving with suspended registration.
A follow-up report shows the man soon cleared up his paperwork and retrieved his car.