Oceanport Man Who Struck Police Officer Charged With Assault By Auto

FREEHOLD, NJ – A 21-year-old Oceanport man was high on heroin and marijuana when he struck a West Long Branch police officer who was directing traffic after a football game last November, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Michael C. Reyes, 21, Center Street, was charged with second-degree assault by auto in a school zone, driving while under the influence of narcotics, reckless driving and failure to comply with the direction of an officer, Gramiccioni said.

West Long Branch Sgt. Brian Kramer was directing traffic on Parker Road on Nov. 6, 2015 after a football game at Shore Regional High School. Reyes was traveling east on Parker Road when he struck the patrolman. Kramer suffered extensive injuries to his head, left shoulder and left knee from the impact and was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, he said.

Reyes turned himself into police custody on Tuesday. Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley set his bail at $25,000. He was released after posting bail.

Kramer was hospitalized for several days before he was transferred to a rehabilitation facility.

“Sgt. Kramer has been released from the rehabilitation facility, but continues to undergo extensive rehabilitative therapy and remains on medical leave from the West Long Branch Police Department,” Gramiccioni said.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team (SCART), and the West Long Branch Police Department determined Reyes was operating the vehicle under the influence of narcotics at the time of the incident.

Reyes faces a sentence of five to 10 years in a New Jersey state prison if convicted on the assault by auto in a school zone charge, Gramiccioni said.