A battalion chief for the Jersey City Fire Department was placed under arrest after he allegedly committed a drunk driving offense in Leonia, NJ.
The suspect is a 57-year-old man who resides in Dumont NJ and works for the Jersey City Fire Department. He has been employed by the fire department for 34 years and has served as the department’s battalion chief for six years.
Police made the DWI arrest shortly after 4:00 p.m. According to law enforcement officials, the suspect was driving a private vehicle on a roadway outside of Overpeck County Park in Leonia when another motorist noticed him swerving across lanes. The other motorist dialed 911 and reported the erratic driving to the Leonia Police Department.
Leonia police dispatched an officer to the scene. The Leonia NJ police officer stopped the suspect’s car and reportedly noticed signs of intoxication. The suspect was later placed under arrest and charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).
It is unclear if the Leonia cop administered a breath test or field sobriety tests prior to arresting the suspect.
If the suspect is ultimately convicted on the drunk driving charges, he would face severe penalties that may include suspension of his license, heavy fines, and jail time. The extent of the penalties would depend on whether the suspect has previous DWI convictions on his record.
For further information about this case, view the NJ.com article, “Jersey City Fire Battalion Chief Charged with DWI in Leonia.”