Whiting Man Goes Ballistic On Berkeley Officers During Arrest: Police

by Patricia A. Miller

A Whiting man is facing multiple charges after he kicked, punched and spit on several Berkeley police officers after he was arrested for drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident, Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele said.

Brian T. Zahn, 26, Elizabeth Avenue, was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, aggravated assault, criminal mischief, throwing bodily fluid, failure to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, refusal to submit to sobriety tests, failure to stop and failure to maintain lane, the chief said.

Police responded to a motor vehicle crash on Wheaton Avenue near Maryland Avenue at 9:55 p.m. on Sept. 2. Multiple witnesses saw the driver crash his vehicle into a tree, leave the vehicle and run onto Maryland Avenue. Patrolman Taylor Butler located him and arrested him for driving while intoxicated, DiMichele said.

Patrolman Alex Houle, Patrolman Shawn Bowens, Patrolman Patrick Stesner, Sergeant William Cullen and Sergeant Henry Ganska also responded to the scene. Zahn was taken to police headquarters for processing.

While at headquarters Zahn assaulted officers by kicking and punching them several times, as well as spitting on them and urinating on the floor. He also broke a printer valued at $1,500, the chief said.

Zahn’s vehicle was towed pursuant to John’s Law. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River in lieu of bail, DiMichele said.