Drunk Morris Twp. Man Slammed Into Tree, Cops Say

A Morris Township man was allegedly drunk when he smashed his SUV into a tree at the intersection of Sussex Avenue and Roberts Street on Saturday night, police said.

Michael Bedrick, of Starlight Drive, was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and failure to maintain a lane after receiving a report of the accident at about 6 p.m.

According to a report filed by officer Steven Crump, he responded to the scene and found a sport utility vehicle with extensive front-end damage from hitting a tree. No other vehicles were involved, according to the report.

When Crump spoke with Bedrick, the driver said he was not injured and didn't require medical attention, according to the report. When asked what had happened, Bedrick said a driver in front of him had "slammed his brakes," then "skidded," then "made a turn," according to the report. Crump noted in his report he could smell the scent of alcohol coming from Bedrick's breath.

Asked where he had been prior to the accident, Bedrick said "the Grasshopper," referring to Grasshopper off the Green in Morristown. He told the officer he had been there for lunch to watch basketball games, was not drunk and was "good to go" and could go through sobriety tests, according to the report.

Crump observed the area and, despite what Bedrick had told the officer, could not find any skid marks on the road "but only the marks from his tires that clearly indicated he veered off the road," according to the report.

Bedrick later recorded a blood alcohol content level of .115 percent, or above the legal limit of .08 percent, according to the report.

Bedrick was transported to Morris Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and advised of his court date. He was later released into the custody of a friend.

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

Note: It is the Morris Township Police Department's policy to omit ages when releasing police reports.