PARSIPPANY — Hanover Township Police Officer Erick Magley arrested Ketankumar Shah, 56, Parsippany, after responding to a motor vehicle accident on Tuesday, December 20, at 11:17 p.m.
Mr. Shah was traveling on Highland Avenue, and attempted to make a U-Turn in a driveway and hit two parked cars.
There were a few airplane bottles of alcohol on the center console inside his vehicle.
After numerous field sobriety tests, Shah failed and was taken into custody and placed under arrest. The officers drove Mr. Shah to East Hanover Police Headquarters to potentially give samples of his breath. Officer Magley stated “Shah was handcuffed, searched, and placed in the rear of the police car. The rear of the car was checked prior to and then again once at East Hanover Police Department with the results being negative.” Then the officer searched Shah and revealed two opened airplane bottles of E & J Brandy, one in each of his front pockets. This was the same type of alcohol located on the center console in Shah’s car.
Shah was then transported to Hanover Township Police Headquarters for processing and issued motor vehicle summonses for DWI, refusal, careless driving, reckless driving, consuming alcohol in a vehicle, failure to provide an insurance card registration card, driving with an open container, and speeding.
Shah made numerous telephone calls but was unable to find anyone to come to pick him up. At this time, Officer Magley drove Shah to his home in Parsippany, where his elderly mother signed the Potential Liability Form.
Shah’s vehicle, a 2008 Honda Odyssey, was disabled and towed by Eagle Towing. Shah was advised how and where to get the release for the vehicle.
The owner of the two damaged vehicles was notified by Patrolman Foesel.
Shah was released pending his court date.
Editor’s Note: An arrest or signing of a criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.