Toms River Man Tried To Hit Police Officer With Car: Police

SOUTH TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River man is being sought after police say he tried to hit a police officer with his car in South Toms River early Wednesday morning.

Colby Hayles, 45, was last seen in a brown 2015 Hyundai Elantra with New Jersey license plates, CCBD96, South Toms River police said.

South Toms River police say they have charged him with knowingly fleeing an officer and with aggravated assault for attempting to cause bodily injury to an officer by attempting to hit the officer with his vehicle.

The incident happened late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. South Toms River police did not give details about what precipitated the incident, but the Jersey Shore Scanner News page reported it resulted in a brief chase as Hayles fled toward Water Street, got on the southbound Garden State Parkway, exited it at Exit 74 in Lacey and got back on the northbound lanes before getting back off the Parkway at exit 83, where the chase was called off by police, according to the report.

Hayles has been arrested previously on charges of failure to pay child support. He is described as about 5-foot-8 with a thin build and has several tattoos.

Anyone with information about Hayles' whereabouts is asked to call Detective Timothy Meier in the South Toms River Police Department at 732-349-0313, ext. 112. All calls will be kept confidential, police said.

Colby Hayles, photo via South Toms River police