FROM BERGEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR JOHN L. MOLINELLIBergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli announced today that the grand jury has returned criminal charges against MICHAEL P. ETTZ of Lodi in connection with a DWI crash that occurred in Lodi on April 19, 2014. Specifically, ETTZ was indicted for 2nd degree Aggravated Assault; 3rd degree Assault by Auto While DWI; and 3rd degree Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury to Another. ETTZ’s total exposure on these charges is a maximum of 15 years.On April 19, 2014, ETTZ was driving westbound on Route 46 in Lodi when he struck Bergen County Police Officer Daniel Breslin’s vehicle from behind. Breslin had stopped in the right lane of travel to assist a fellow Bergen County Police Officer who had pulled off to the shoulder to repair a radio problem.

As a result of the collision, Breslin suffered a traumatic brain injury and was hospitalized for months. ETTZ walked away from the collision scene and was arrested by responding police in a nearby backyard. Police immediately suspected that ETTZ was intoxicated and charged him with DWI, assault and leaving the scene of a serious motor vehicle accident.

Prosecutor Molinelli states that this indictment is not proof of guilt and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The Prosecutor would also like to thank the Lodi Police Department, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department and the Bergen County Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.