Police in Hopatcong NJ recently arrested a man accused of drunk driving while a child was a passenger in his car.

According to police, a Hopatcong NJ patrol officer saw the 43-year-old suspect driving on Lakeside Boulevard in Hopatcong, New Jersey. The officer allegedly saw that the suspect’s headlight was out. So the officer pulled over the suspect on the side of the road.

The officer walked up to the vehicle and began to speak with the driver. At some point during the conversation, the officer reportedly detected alcohol on the suspect’s breath.

The officer also observed that a child was a passenger in the suspect’s vehicle.

The Hopatcong officer then administered a series of field sobriety tests. According to police, the suspect failed the tests. This prompted the officer to place the suspect under arrest.

The suspect, who lives in Hopatcong NJ, was taken to Hopatcong police headquarters for processing.

The suspect has been charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) and driving while intoxicated with a minor. Additionally, the suspect was cited for traffic violations like reckless driving and failure to maintain lane.

The suspect could be subject to significant penalties for the drunk driving charges. Even if it merely the suspect’s first DWI offense, he could face a mandatory suspension of his driver’s license in the State of New Jersey.

Sometime after the suspect was arrested and processed, the child was turned over to the custody of a relative.

For further information about this case, check out the NJ.com article entitled “Hopatcong Man Drove Drunk with Kid in Car, Cops Say.”