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Michael Ettz, 36, of Lodi slammed his four-door 2012 Ford Fusion into Breslin’s marked SUV and then tried to make a run for it after being pulled from his car, Molinelli said.
Ettz (mugshot, above) was charged with aggravated assault, DWI assault by auto, leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury, hindering apprehension and obstruction.
He was issued summonses for DWI, reckless driving, failing to yield to an emergency vehicle.
(A published report elsewhere incorrectly says that he was bailed from the county jail. Ettz posted at Lodi Police HQ.)
Breslin (photo, right) sustained a “significant head injury” and was brought to surgery with a skull fracture and bleeding after a CAT scan was done following the 1:50 a.m. crash, Molinelli said. He also reportedly suffered broken ribs.
“He underwent surgery this morning and is in critical condition,” the prosecutor said.
Breslin, 39, had stopped his SUV to block traffic from hitting another county police car stopped on the right shoulder in front of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car because fellow Officer Frank Canaje was having radio problems, Molinelli said.
He stopped “parallel to Officer Canaje’s vehicle in order to assist” and was talking with him when the SUV was rammed from behind by Ettz’s black sedan, Molinelli said.
“After the impact, Officer Canaje radioed his headquarters of the crash and removed Ettz from his vehicle,” the prosecutor said. “Ettz was brought to an area off the roadway where he then fled on foot north behind the businesses and into a nearby neighborhood.
“He was apprehended in the backyard of 6 Christopher Court by Sgt. Michael LaRosa of the Lodi Police Department,” Molinelli said.
Both Breslin and Ettz were taken to HUMC by ambulance.
Breslin, a married father of two, is a former South Hackensack Police Officer who was laid off for budgetary reasons and hired by the BCPD in 2010.
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CVP BROKE THE STORY overnight: Bergen County Police Department officer critical, driver arrested, following Route 46 crash in Lodi
- PHOTOS above, top: ANDREW McDONALD
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