Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Toms River Township Police Chief Mitch Little announced that on April 30, 2019, Brian Swain, age 48, of Toms River was arrested and charged with Attempted Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5d.

On April 30, 2019, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force Detectives and members of the Toms River Township Police Department Special Enforcement Team observed drug activity in the parking lot of a Walgreen’s on River Avenue in Toms River. A motor vehicle stop was executed just over the Lakewood border in the Seagull Square Mall. As Detectives approached the vehicle, the driver, Swain, quickly accelerated and stopped.  He again accelerated the vehicle, steering toward the officer, and struck a Toms River Township Police Officer, causing injury to the officer.  Swain drove away, and was eventually stopped in the parking lot by Toms River Township Police and placed under arrest.  The officer was transported to the hospital and released after treatment for minor injuries.  Swain is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail awaiting a detention hearing.

There were two (2) passengers in Swain’s vehicle at the time of the stop.  Emil Menching, age 39, of Toms River, was charged with Possession of Heroin in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2, and Possession of a Hypodermic Needle in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-6a.  Menching was released pending a future court date. The other passenger, Timothy Meseroll, was arrested on an active warrant out of municipal court, for which he posted bail and was released.