A Delaware man is facing his eighth DUI charge since 2010 following a traffic stop by the Montgomery Township Police Department on Bethlehem Pike over the weekend.
Frederick Cromartie, 47, of Milton, DE, has been charged with felony DUI along with summary charges of failing to stop at a red signal, disregarding traffic lanes, careless driving and driving on a suspended license, in connection with the May 22 incident.
According to the complaint, police were dispatched to northbound Bethlehem Pike near Enclave Boulevard at 1:28 p.m. for a report of a reckless driver. Dispatched indicated that a white Dodge Caravan with Delaware registration was driving erratically and swerving.
Police located the vehicle near the intersection of Bethlehem Pike and North Wales Road, and observed the vehicle travel through a red light at the Five Points intersection without stopping, the report states. Police said they continued to follow the vehicle northbound on Bethlehem Pike as the vehicle swerved between lanes, and initiated a traffic stop in the area of JL Freed Honda.
As the vehicle slowed to a stop, it nearly struck the curb before swerving back into the roadway, police said.
Once the vehicle was stopped, police made contact with the driver — identified as Cromartie — who was described as having droopy eyelids, depressed reflexes and heavily slurred speech, the report states. Cromartie told police that he was travelling to Philadelphia, despite driving in the opposite direction, police said.
The report states that when Cromartie was asked to exit the vehicle for a series of field sobriety tests, he had to keep one hand on the vehicle at all times to maintain balance. He would go on to show numerous indicators of impairment via the field sobriety tests, according to the complaint.
The results of a chemical blood test are pending, police said.
Cromartie was arraigned later that evening by Magisterial District Judge Katherine McGill, who set bail at 10% of $25,000 cash. He was then remanded to county jail after failing to post bail, and his next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on June 8 at 2:15 p.m. in front of Magisterial District Judge Andrea Duffy.
Police said Cromartie has seven prior DUI convictions in Pennsylvania, dating back to 2010. Those convictions include:
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
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