Montgomery Township Police. Photo by James Short.
Man's ignores mother, sister asking him not to drive
Despite his mother and sister pleading with him not to, one Montgomery Township man got behind the wheel and opted to drive despite being intoxicated, according to police.
According to reports, Eric Nessim, 42, of the 300 block of Ellison Drive, was seen on Aug. 14 at 12:23 a.m. driving a black Ford F-150 west on Welsh Road in Montgomery Township. Police followed the truck after witnessing, they said, Nessim turning right onto 202 from the left-turning lane. As police followed the driver, reports noted, the truck straddled over the center lane divider, accelerated quickly, and switched lanes frequently swerving.
Police said they continued to follow behind Nessim turning on their lights to initiate a traffic stop on 202 near Knapp Road. Reports said the truck turned onto Knapp Road, still driving between lanes, and turned into the Giant parking lot at 1201 Knapp Road, using a lane marked “no left turn” to turn left into the entrance.
According to police, Nessim, the sole occupant of the vehicle, had a strong odor of alcoholic beverages emanating from his breath. His speech, police said, was slurred. Police proceed to note that Nessim’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy. Nessim told police, according to reports, that he was awaiting his sister to pick him up, stating to police “I don’t mean any harm.”
Nessim told police he was driving to Giant to wait for his sister, and police asked him if he had had anything to drink. He responded, per reports, that he’d had two drinks. Police said that Nessim admitted that he should not have been driving and was “told by his mother and his sister that he should not be driving.”
Nessim said, according to reports, that he “did not want any trouble,” and that he knew a lot of people in the county. Police asked Nessim to then attempt field sobriety testing. Reports noted that his gait was staggered and unsteady upon exiting the vehicle.
Police said that Nessim told them he had three prior DUI arrests, stating “I shouldn’t be driving. My house is right there. My mom and sister are coming now. I shouldn’t be driving.”
Police reported that they’d determined Nessim was unable to safely operate a vehicle, appearing to be under the influence of alcohol. He was taken into custody, police said, at 12:29 a.m., as he continued to make comments, noting “I am sorry I drove drunk. I’m agreeing with you. I’m drunk. I should not have been driving.”
Reports stated that Nessim was read his rights by police, as he continued to interrupt stating “dude, you gotta be kidding me, bro,” repeatedly. Nessim reportedly refused a blood test at 12:40 a.m. A search warrant was completed and approved by police for Nessim’s blood. It was collected and is pending a toxicology report.
Nessim is charged with a felony count of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI), general impairments, as well as disregarding a single traffic lane, careless driving, obedience to traffic-control devices, disregarding turning movements and road signals, and an improper right turn.
Nessim is being held in county jail unable to post bail, set at $5,077. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 24 before Magisterial District Judge Andrea Hudak Duffy at 1:45 p.m.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
