Dad Calls Cops, Son Accused of Crash, Having Pot

A Morris Township man involved in a car accident he initially claimed he didn't remember was arrested Monday on drug charges after his father called the cops to report damage to his Mercedes he believed was caused by vandalism, police said.

According to acting chief John McGuinness, Jason Friedberg, 28, crashed his father's 2008 Mercedes into a parked car and mailbox on White Birch Drive, and damaged a front lawn on Bedford Drive Monday at about 2 a.m.

When the police examined Friedberg's vehicle, they found 50 grams of marijuana and a ceramic pipe commonly used to inhale CDS, according to a statement released by McGuinness.

Friedberg was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and seven motor vehicle summonses for reckless driving, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash, failure to report a motor vehicle crash and careless driving, McGuinness said.

Police were first notified about the accident when Patrolman Dave Crowley responded to a call from Friedberg's father hours after the accident, saying that he noticed his car was vandalized in his driveway, McGuinness said.

But McGuinness said when Crowley arrived at the Friedberg residence, Crowley looked at the car and told Friedberg's father that the car appeared it had been involved in a motor vehicle accident and not vandalized.

Friedberg's father then asked his son, who is the primary driver of the Mercedes to speak to the officers.

Friedberg first told the officers when they arrived at his home at 8 a.m. that he did not remember getting into an accident, McGuinness said.

Friedberg told Crowley that he left the car in the driveway at 2 a.m. and there wasn't any damage, McGuinness said. Friedberg said someone must have come in, went into his bedroom, took his keys, crashed the car and then left the car in his driveway, McGuinness said.

But after Det. Robert Shearer and Crowley spoke further with Friedberg, he admitted to driving the car after consuming alcohol at two parties on White Birch Drive and in Morristown, McGuinness said.

Friedberg told the cops he does not remember getting in the accident, McGuinness said. However, based on the evidence taken at both accident locations on White Birch Drive and Bedford Drive, they determined it was Friedberg who caused the damage, McGuinness said.

After receiving consent to search Friedberg's car, officers found the marijuana and the paraphernalia, McGuinness said. Friedberg claimed the items belonged to a friend but did not disclose the name, McGuinness said.

Friedberg is set to appear in municipal court on Sept. 11 for a first hearing on the offenses.