Man Charged With Attempted Murder Of Toms River Detective

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River man has been charged with attempted murder after he ran down a Toms River police detective during a drug investigation on Tuesday evening, the Ocean County prosecutor's office and Toms River police said Wednesday.

Brian Swain, 48, of Toms River, is being held at the Ocean County Jail on charges of attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon, Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer and Toms River Police Chief Mitchell Little said in a joint announcement.

Detectives with the Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and members of the Toms River Township Police Department Special Enforcement Team saw drug activity in the parking lot of a Walgreen’s on River Avenue in Toms River and pulled over the car, with Swain driving, just over the Lakewood border in the Seagull Square Mall, he said.

As officers approached, Swain hit the gas then stopped, then accelerated again, hitting a Toms River detective, who landed on the hood and hit the windshield, authorities said.

Swain drove away but was stopped by Toms River police before he was able to get out of the parking lot, Billhimer said.

Two passengers in Swain's car, Emil Menching, 39, of Toms River, and Timothy Meseroll, were arrested. Menching was charged with possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a hypodermic needle, and released pending a future court date. Meseroll was arrested on an active warrant out of municipal court, for which he posted bail and was released.

The detective was taken to Community Medical Center for treatment, police said Tuesday night.

Swain is being held pending a detention hearing.

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