Cops: Drunk Driver Said He Had One Lung

say a man brought in for alleged driving while intoxicated refused to submit to a breath test because, he said, he only had one lung.

But, when police told George Fahme, 25, of Brooklyn, NY, they were going to add a charge of refusal to submit to a breath test to an already extensive list of charges, he told them he would "do it right this time," police said.

Fahme was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, delaying/obstructing traffic, unclear plates, failure to wear a seatbelt, careless driving, refusal to submit to the test and failure to exhibit a driver's license at 2:15 a.m. on April 25.

Officer Anthony O'Brien was driving through a Morristown Parking Authority lot when his path was blocked by a 2008 Lexus with New York license plates and its rear passenger door open, according to his report about the incident.

After O'Brien observed the passengers for a few minutes, both from behind their vehicle and from alongside it, one of them said, "Yo, the cops are right there," according to the report. When O'Brien asked Fahme, the driver, to pull his vehicle into a parking space and asked if he had been drinking, Fahme said he just was in town to pick up his brother (who was in the passenger seat) for his birthday, according to the report.

O'Brien said in his report, however, that Fahme's breath smelled of alcohol and his eyes appeared watery, droopy and bloodshot.

During sobriety tests, Fahme stated he had "one glass with dinner a very long time ago," despite saying earlier he had not drank at all, according to the report. After the sobriety tests, O'Brien attempted four times to administer a breath test at the scene without positive results, according to the report. Fahme said, "my tongue has a tail and I can't stick it out," according to the report.

Later at the police station, while attempting to take another breath test, Fahme gave three quick puffs that were not enough for the machine to work, stating he only had one lung, according to police. Police, however, told Fahme earlier that a girl with one lung had previously been able to give a positive breath sample, according to the report.

Believing Fahme to be delaying or trying to avoid the breath test, police said he would be given a refusal to submit charge, according to the report. To this, Fahme said, "let me do it again! I'll do it right this time, please!" according to the report.

He was later released into the custody of his girlfriend.

For questions about this post, email John Dunphy at john.dunphy@patch.com.