The Toms River Twp. Police have located the driver of the vehicle involved an assault on a police officer.
This afternoon (Dec. 8) at approximately 12:34 p.m., Officer Daniel Brennan, a 15-year veteran of the Toms River Police Department, was struck by a vehicle as it fled the scene of an investigation.
Officer Brennan was at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Office located at 1861 Hooper Avenue investigating a document fraud case. He was speaking to a man who is suspected of trying to forge and obtain fraudulent documents by using a false identity. The man suddenly fled on foot and entered a black Honda and put the vehicle in reverse with the driver’s door still open.
Officer Brennan was trapped between the open door of the car and the driver’s seat. He was dragged at least 25 yards before falling loose. The suspect vehicle then struck two parked cars and fled the area by traveling north on Hooper Avenue. Officer Brennan is being treated at Community Medical center for non-life threatening injuries.
Information was developed as to the suspect vehicle and surveillance photographs from inside of the MVC Office of a male suspect and a female person of interest who was with him. This information was disseminated to local media via numerous social media methods. Based upon the release of this information a concerned citizen reported that a black Honda was on Bay Point Drive, which is on 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 was picked up by an unknown person in a different vehicle.
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 the police officer at the MVC Office. Based upon further investigative measures he was subsequently taken into custody and is expected to be charged with numerous offenses.
The suspect was in possession of several false identifications, therefore can’t positively identify the man at this time.
The female person of interest has still not been located.
Anyone with additional information should contact Detective Randy Petrick at 732-349-0150 extension 1235.