Man Arrested In Hit-Run Assault On Toms River Police Officer

TOMS RIVER, NJ -- A man is in custody Tuesday afternoon in connection with a parking lot hit-and-run that injured a Toms River police officer, police said.

The identity of the arrested man has not been released as authorities continue to try to confirm it, said Ralph Stocco, spokesman for the Toms River Police Department.

Officer Daniel Brennan, a 15-year veteran, was taken to Community Medical Center, Toms River, for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, Stocco said.

Stocco said Brennan was hit by the car and dragged about 25 feet in the parking lot at 1861 Hooper Ave., where he had responded to investigate a document fraud case at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Services office there.

Brennan was speaking to a man suspected of trying to obtain documents by using a false identity when the man suddenly fled, jumped into a black Honda and put the car in reverse with the driver’s door still open, Stocco said. Brennan was caught between the open door of the car and the driver’s seat, then dragged at least 25 yards before falling loose, Stocco said.

The suspect vehicle, which authorities said had temporary Pennsylvania tags, then struck two parked cars and fled the area by traveling north on Hooper Avenue, he said. Information was developed as to the suspect vehicle and surveillance photographs from inside the MVC Office of a male suspect and a female person of interest who was with him.

Stocco said the information released to various media outlets resulted in a concerned citizen reporting that a black Honda was on Bay Point Drive in Toms River, a dead-end street a mile or two east of the MVC office. The car was positively identified as being involved in striking the officer but the suspect had been picked up by an unknown person in a different vehicle, Stocco said.

At 2:25 pm, Officer Pete Saker, observed a vehicle with Pennsylvania license plates operating erratically near the intersection of North Bay Avenue and Whitty Road. A motor vehicle stop was conducted and the passenger of that car appeared to be the man wanted for striking Brennan at the MVC Office, Stocco said.

Based upon further investigative measures the passenger was subsequently taken into custody and is expected to be charged with numerous offenses, he said. In the passenger’s possession were several false identifications, Stocco said, “and we are not yet assured as to his positive identity and cannot release anything further.”

The woman, seen as a person of interest, still has not been located, he said.

Stocco said Toms River police “would like to thank the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department as well as the numerous media outlets and surrounding police agencies who assisted in quickly getting this information into the hands of the public who are our eyes and ears.”

“These partnerships have again yielded speedy results and brought suspected criminals to justice,“ Stocco said.

Anyone with additional information should contact Detective Randy Petrick at 732-349-0150 extension 1235.