Man charged with ramming car into ICE agent in New Jersey

A 39-year-old Barnegat Township man was charged with assaulting an officer after he allegedly rammed his van into a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in New Jersey earlier this week, according to prosecutors.

Eduardo Cruz Garcia was charged by criminal complaint with assaulting a federal officer while the officer was engaged in official duties and inflicting bodily injury to the officer.

Cruz Garcia had an initial court appearance on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin T. Quinn in Trenton federal court and was ordered detained.

Agents say they were looking for Eduardo Cruz Garcia, 39, who they said was in the country illegally, when they attempted to stop a vehicle at around 9:30 a.m. Monday in Manahawkin.

Agents stopped the white van being driven by Cruz Garcia and told him and another passenger to roll down the windows.

Cruz Garcia allegedly tried to get away by driving the van forward while an ICE agent was standing next to the vehicle.

“Weaponizing his vehicle, Cruz Garcia struck the victim agent, causing the agent’s body to be wedged in between the van and one of the ICE vehicles,” according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.

An ICE spokesperson previously said the agent discharged his firearm after being hit.

Cruz Garcia hit another ICE vehicle parked nearby before driving away, prosecutors said. It’s not clear if he or the passenger were hit by the gunfire.

The agent was taken to the hospital, where his thigh and shin were treated.

The assault charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

“The FBI considers assault on a federal officer a severe and significant violent crime,” said FBI Newark SAC Stefanie Roddy. “We will continue to work with our valued law enforcement partners to ensure that incidents such as these are treated with the gravity they deserve, so that men and women of federal law enforcement can continue to serve, safely returning home unharmed.”