Morris County man accused of pretending to be his brother during Fairfield traffic stop

FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Essex County) — A Wharton Borough man was arrested after allegedly pretending to be his brother during a traffic stop and providing police with another person’s driver’s license, according to the Fairfield Police Department.

Adam Pappas, 33, was arrested Aug. 29 and charged with hindering apprehension, police said.

At about 9:37 p.m., police were patrolling Route 46 East near the Hollywood Avenue exit when an officer allegedly observed a white Mercedes-Benz van displaying an expired New Jersey temporary license plate.

Police stopped the vehicle in the parking lot of TD Bank. When an officer approached the driver, later identified as Pappas, he allegedly provided a driver’s license belonging to another person and pretended to be that person while being questioned.

Further investigation determined Pappas was allegedly pretending to be his brother and that his driving privileges were suspended, police said. Pappas also did not have a valid driver’s license.

Police said officers also allegedly found several open containers of beer inside the vehicle.

Pappas was issued motor vehicle summonses for driving with a suspended license, being an unlicensed driver, improper display of a license plate, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and driving with an open container of alcohol.

He was criminally charged with hindering apprehension. The charge was placed on a warrant, and Pappas was transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility, police said.