Court documents allege Reyes dragged the victim from the street and fled
Andrew Reyes, a 30-year-old Brooklyn resident, was arrested Thursday morning in connection with a Feb. 3 hit-and-run that left a pedestrian seriously injured. He was charged in an indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court, and his arraignment was scheduled for later Thursday.
Prosecutors said Reyes drove his government car the wrong way down Ocean Parkway, a busy six-lane boulevard, ran a red light and struck the pedestrian before speeding away. According to court documents, the car’s emergency lights were activated as Reyes sped against traffic, and the impact knocked the man to the pavement.
Court documents allege that Reyes then got out of the car, dragged the unconscious victim out of the street and placed his bag next to him on a bench before fleeing the scene.
Prosecutors said that when investigators asked Reyes whether he had ever hit a person and not reported it, Reyes falsely stated that he had not.
Reyes faces charges including willfully depriving an individual of his constitutional rights while acting under color of law and making false statements. Court papers list him as a former FBI Special Agent. The FBI did not immediately respond to inquiries about his employment history and status.
“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.”
Reyes’ attorney, Federal Public Defender Nora Hirozawa, said he would be pleading not guilty. She declined further comment.
The victim was not identified, and his condition wasn’t known.