FLORHAM PARK – On Friday, January 24, 2025, at approximately 1:15 in the morning, Officer Dan Hedden observed a vehicle that exited Route 24 West and made an illegal turn onto Columbia Turnpike West. The vehicle was traveling unusually slowly for a fifty-mile-per-hour roadway before pulling over to the shoulder and parking.
As Officer Hedden approached the vehicle to check on the driver, Dispatcher Mike Primamore relayed critical information. The New Jersey State Police had received reports of the same vehicle driving erratically on Route 24, nearly causing multiple crashes. The caller also suspected the driver of being under the influence of alcohol.
Officer Hedden conducted a roadside interview with the driver, a forty-eight-year-old male from Union, New Jersey. Based on his observations and conversation with the driver, he suspected impairment due to intoxication. Officer Kyle Kepler arrived on the scene to assist and administered field sobriety tests, which the driver failed to complete satisfactorily.
As a result, Officer Hedden placed the driver under arrest, arranged for his vehicle to be towed from the roadway, and transported him to Florham Park Police Headquarters for processing. Once at headquarters, the driver refused to provide breath samples, which are legally mandated by the state.
The driver was charged with the following offenses:
- Driving While Intoxicated
- Refusal to Submit to Chemical Breath Testing
- Reckless Driving
- Careless Driving
- Unlawful Parking on a Highway
During the investigation, Officer Hedden also discovered an outstanding criminal warrant from 1998 out of East Orange for drug-related offenses. Following processing at Florham Park Police Headquarters, the suspect was turned over to the East Orange Police Department, where he would be held to satisfy the outstanding warrant.
Editors Note: The court’s rules require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
