By Basant El-Faramawy
An FBI agent drove a government vehicle the wrong way on a busy Brooklyn boulevard, ran a red light, struck a pedestrian and fled the scene, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.
Arrest and Charges
Andrew Reyes, a 30-year-old Brooklyn resident, was arrested Thursday morning and faced arraignment later in the day. He is charged with willfully depriving an individual of constitutional rights while acting under color of law and making false statements. His attorney, Federal Public Defender Nora Hirozawa, said Reyes would plead not guilty and declined further comment.
Details of the Crash
The incident occurred on Feb. 3 on Ocean Parkway, a six-lane thoroughfare. Court documents say Reyes had the car's emergency lights activated as he sped against traffic, hit the man and knocked him to the pavement. Reyes then got out, dragged the unconscious victim out of the street, placed his bag next to him on a bench and fled.
False Statements to Investigators
Prosecutors said Reyes later lied to investigators when asked if he had ever hit a person and not reported it, falsely stating he had not.
Prosecutors' Statement
“The defendant’s alleged conduct demonstrated a shocking disregard for human life and his sworn oath to uphold the law,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella said in a statement Thursday. “The charges announced today send the clear message that no one is above the law and those who abuse their position of trust and deprive citizens of their constitutional rights will be prosecuted.”
Victim and Agent Status
The victim was not identified and his condition was not known. Court papers list Reyes as a former FBI special agent. The bureau did not immediately respond to inquiries about his employment history and status.
