SOUTH BRUNSWICK: Cops arrest eight during busy weekend

By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
   Police logged a busy weekend last week, arresting eight individuals for DUI and confiscating drugs in two of the cases, according to the department.
   The flurry of activity began last Saturday at 4:20 p.m. when off duty police Sgt. Jim Ryan saw a 2007 Ford pickup truck driving down Route 130 south without tires on the passenger side, according to police.
   Sgt. Ryan called the incident in and the vehicle was stopped by Patrolman John Niper.
   The driver, Larry Hill, 62, of Neptune in Monmouth County told Patrolman Niper that he had struck a curb in North Brunswick and blew out the tires on the vehicle. When officers on the scene detected alcohol on Mr. Hill’s breath, he denied drinking, according to police.
   After reportedly failing field sobriety tests, police charged Mr. Hill with driving under the influence, reckless driving, operating an unsafe vehicle and failure to stay in one lane.
   Police impounded the vehicle and released Mr. Hill on a summons, according to the department.
   At 11:50 p.m. on Saturday, police were alerted to a vehicle being driven erratically on Route 1.
   Patrolman William Merkler then observed the 2002 Buick allegedly speeding down New Road and pulled it over at Constable Road, police said.
   According to police, the driver, Robert Surrey, 28, of Hamilton exhibited “slow and deliberate” speech while addressing the officers.
   The officers reportedly saw a glass pipe used to smoke marijuana on the passenger seat and a clear plastic bag hanging out of Mr. Surrey’s pants.
   According to police, Mr. Surrey admitted that the bag contained marijuana, but he had already smoked the contents.
   During the arrest for driving under the influence, police said officers discovered heroin and crack cocaine on Mr. Surrey.
   He was also charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving and speeding, according to police.
   He was released after posting $1,000 bail, according to police.
   At 12:10 a.m. Sunday, Patrolman Salvatore Fama pulled over a 2003 Honda after it had allegedly run a red light at the intersection of Route 1 and New Road, police said.
   After noticing an odor of alcohol on the breath of driver Pritten Patel, 23, of Saddle Brook, Patrolman Fama administered field sobriety tests.
   Mr. Patel was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, and failure to maintain a lane and disregard of a traffic signal, according to police.
   He was released on a summons.
   About an hour later, police received a call about a truck in a ditch on New Road near Sondek Park.
   When a police officer arrived on the scene to check out the Red, Dodge Dakota truck, two of the occupants ran off and two stayed with the vehicle, police said.
   According to police, the officers learned that four teenagers were allegedly drinking alcohol in the park and had then driven the truck into a ditch.
   The 17-year-old driver was charged with DUI and under age consumption of alcohol, according to police. The three passengers, Justin Goldstein,18, Ketul Patel,18, and a 17-year-old juvenile male, all from Kendall Park, were each charged with underage consumption of alcohol, according to police.
   All of the individuals were arrested and transported to police headquarters and were all later released pending future court appearances.
   On Monday afternoon at 3:35 p.m., police responded to Kory Drive in Dayton on a reported motor vehicle accident.
   Upon arriving, Patrolman Gagan Chopra spoke with the driver of a black BMW identified as Matthew Overstrom, 22, of Kendall Park, according to police.
   Patrolman Chopra told Mr. Overstrom that his registration and insurance were expired and then detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, according to police.
   After getting written consent to search the vehicle, Patrolman Chopra reportedly found six bags of marijuana and a scale in the trunk of the car, police said.
   Mr. Overstrom was arrested and charged with manufacturing and distributing more than 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana.
   According to police, Mr. Overstrom posted $2,500 bail and was released.
   The accident that spurred the investigation had no injuries or property damage, according to police.