Cops: Man Refuses to Give Up Keys to Mother's Car

A Hopatcong man who refused to give up the keys to his mother's car was arrested Saturday, police said.

David Berry, 23, took the car from his mom's Eugene Road home without her permission, police said. The mother reported the car had been taken and Officer Nick Maresca spotted the vehicle on Hopatchung Road at about 3 p.m.

Berry was in the driver's seat when Maresca pulled him over, and he turned off the vehicle when he was asked.

Maresca asked Berry several times to give him the keys, which he refused to do, finally shouting "No!" to the police officer, according to the report. Maresca reached inside the car to grab the keys, and Berry allegedly locked the car door while the window was still open.

The officer hit the button to unlock the door and opened it, again demanding the keys from Berry, police said. Police said Berry then clenched his hands around the keys tighter as Maresca again tried to grab them.

Berry was told he was under arrest, police said, after two other officers arrived and helped with extracting Berry and the keys from the car. 

Berry was taken to police headquarters where he was charged and later released, police said.