Man Indicted On Attempted Murder Charge In Hit-Run Of Toms River Cop: Report

TOMS RIVER, NJ -- The man accused of hitting and dragging a Toms River police officer with his car in December has been indicted on an attempted murder charge, according to a report.

The Asbury Park Press reported that Giomar Diaz, 33, of the Bronx, was indicted recently on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, eluding police, and aggravated assault while trying to elude police. Police said Diaz was later picked up by a friend, Alive Hernandez Almazar, 28, of Camden. Hernandez was indicted on a charge of hindering the apprehension or prosecution of Diaz, according to the Press report.

The incident on Dec. 8 sparked a wide search for both Diaz and the car he was driving at the time.

Diaz, whom police said had been previously deported on drug and weapons charges and, allegedly was in the United States illegally, hit and dragged Toms River Police Officer Daniel Brennan when Brennan responded to a call to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Services office in Silverton on Dec. 8 regarding document fraud at the agency.

Brennan, a 15-year veteran, was dragged after a man -- whom police identified as Diaz -- jumped into a Honda and threw the car into reverse with the driver’s side door still open. Brennan was caught between the open door of the car and the driver’s seat and dragged at least 25 yards before falling loose, department spokesman Ralph Stocco said at the time.

Diaz is accused of having fraudulent identification and trying to obtain more, authorites said.

The car, which had temporary Pennsylvania tags, was later abandoned and, police allege, that’s when Diaz was picked up by Hernandez Almanzar.

Brennan was treated at Community Medical Center, Toms River, for non-life-threatening injuries, Stocco said.

Diaz remains in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River, in lieu of $500,000 bail as well as a no-bail detainer from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division because he appears to be in the United States illegally. He is believed to have previously been detained on criminal charges in the United States and was deported to the Dominican Republic. Initial reports are that these charges were as a result of weapons and drug charges, Stocco said.

Hernandez Almanzar has posted bond, according to jail records.