Cops: Man Hit Sign, Had Open Beer in Car

Morristown police say a Morris Township resident was arrested after his vehicle hit a road safety sign and he was found with an open can of beer.

Eliijah Pettiway, 63, of Livingston Road in Morris Township, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, careless driving and having an open alcoholic beverage at 6:59 p.m. on May 4.

Officer Deanna Dietrich was parked on Clyde Potts Drive when she observed Pettiway drive past, cross over the double-yellow lines and strike the "Yield to Pedestrians" sign, according to her report. When she approached Pettiway's vehicle, he seemed unaware as to why he was being stopped by police, according to the report.

Dietrich saw an open can of Heineken Light beer in the vehicle's center console, which Pettiway said was old, despite it being cool to the touch, according to the report. 

Pettiway first said he had not been drinking, but when Dietrich said she could smell alcohol on his breath, Pettiway said he had two Corona's, though he could not recall when, according to the report. 

After a failed attempt to administer field sobriety tests, Dietrich arrested Pettiway and took him to the headquarters, where a blood alcohol content test registered Pettiway at .21 percent, or nearly triple the legal limit of .08 percent, according to the report.

He was later released into the custody of his daughter.

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