Motor vehicle incident leads to attempted murder charges

MARLBORO - Authorities have charged a Hazlet resident with attempted murder after he tried to mow down a pair of police officers who were working a traffic detail on Sept. 14. One officer was injured and is on medical leave.

According to information provided by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, David Byrne, 44, of Hazlet, was arrested on Sept. 18 and charged with two counts of attempted murder. The arrest was made when Byrne turned himself in at the Marlboro Police Department accompanied by his attorney Paul Zager, of Red Bank.

As of press time, Zager had not returned a message seeking comment.

Byrne's arrest followed an investigation that was conducted by the prosecutor's office and Marlboro police into an incident that occurred on Route 520, west of Route 9, at about 8:53 a.m. Sept. 14.

The investigation revealed that at that time and location, two Marlboro officers, Patrolman William Nagle and Patrolman Michael Tischler, were providing traffic control for motorists while road maintenance was being performed.

According to the prosecutor's office, as Byrne, who was driving a truck belonging to his employer, approached the closure area, he was directed to stop by Nagle. Instead of complying with the officer's command, Byrne drove directly at the officer without braking, slowing down or altering his direction of travel. Nagle avoided injury by jumping out of the way.

Byrne then drove through the closure, approaching Tischler, who also directed him to stop. Again, Byrne did not brake, slow down or alter his direction of travel. Tischler attempted to jump out of the way, but was unsuccessful and sustained an injury when the side view mirror of the truck Byrne was operating struck him in the arm, according to the prosecutor's office.

Subsequent to the incident on Route 520, detectives were able to locate the truck Byrne had been operating, and as a result were able to identify Byrne as the driver. The detectives then spent several days trying to locate Byrne before he turned himself in at police headquarters, according to the prosecutor's office.

Byrne was lodged in the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, in lieu of $250,000 bail, which was set by state Superior Court Judge Paul F. Chaiet.

As of Sept. 24 Byrne remained in the county jail, according to Undersheriff Ted Freeman.

Tischler was treated and released at a local hospital.

At the Township Council's Sept. 20 meeting, council President Jeff Cantor offered thoughts and prayers to the two police officers who were involved in the incident and to their families. He said Tischler was out on medical leave.

Attempted murder is a first-degree crime and upon conviction carries a maximum potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin said, "This incident serves as yet another reminder of the danger faced by police officers in our community on a daily basis, even when performing seemingly mundane duties."

Valentin said the investigation is continuing.

Anyone who witnessed the incident on Route 520 is asked to call Detective Jose Cruz of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at 1-800-533-7443 and/or Detective Sgt. Paul Reed of the Marlboro Police Department at (732) 536-0100.