An Edison cop who was involved in a motor-vehicle collision this summer is accused of attempting to discourage a responding officer from completing a crash investigation report, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Joseph M. Sudnick, Jr. was suspended when the crash occurred, the affidavit stated, but he still presented himself as a police officer to the other driver. He later texted an Edison officer asking to look up the other driver’s vehicle registration through a law enforcement system, the affidavit said.

Sudnick faces two charges of obstructing administration of law and a disorderly persons charge of hindering apprehension of prosecution.

Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan said Thursday that Sudnick is suspended without pay, but declined to further discuss personnel issues about the officer.

The crash occurred July 19 at an undisclosed location in Edison, the affidavit said. Sudnick “represented himself” as an officer to the female driver and told her she should leave the scene without pursuing a police investigation since he claimed there was no damage to her car.

Sudnick allegedly also offered the other driver $100 on the scene.

When officers arrived, the affidavit said, Sudnick repeatedly attempted to discourage them from completing a crash report by saying that neither vehicle had any damage. The criminal investigation, however, found that not to be true.

No injuries were reported in the crash, the charging document reads. No other information could be learned about the collision.

On or about Aug. 8, an Edison police officer received a text message from Sudnick requesting a Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) query for the registration of the vehicle belonging to the female driver, the affidavit said.

He was still suspended when he sent the text, the affidavit said. The officer who received the text provided the message to the police department and submitted a report about it, the affidavit said.

Sudnick “requested the query be done without drawing attention” and “was aware that a criminal investigation had commenced into the motor vehicle crash prior to his requesting the CJIS query,” the affidavit said.

Sudnick has been with the Edison Police Department for 14 years and makes $135,538 annually, pension data shows.

An attorney listed for Sudnick was not immediately available for comment Thursday afternoon.

The charges against Sudnick are the latest involving Edison Police Department officers being arrested or charged in the past several years.

Deputy Police Chief Ronald Mieczkowski resigned in June after he was accused of making a false statement under oath. And five township cops were indicted last year in a no-show job scandal.

Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico.