Ambulance driver charged with assault of cop
Police claim officer was pushed by man at
accident scene
SOUTH BRUNSWICK — A private ambulance company driver was charged with pushing a police officer at the scene of a motor vehicle accident Dec. 23.
The incident began when police received a call about a Volvo driving erratically on Route 1. The caller reported the erratic driver had turned onto New Road.
South Brunswick police Sgt. Angelo Cresci was only two blocks away, and arrived to find that the Volvo had crashed into a tree and that a private ambulance owned by Rural Metro Ambulance had arrived and was parked with its emergency lights on.
According to police, Wilfredo Cruz, 29, of Jersey City was driving for Rural Metro, based in South Amboy.
Police said Sgt. Cresci found the driver of the car, William Mizerak, 47, of South Brunswick, already in the back of the ambulance.
As additional officers arrived and began to investigate the accident and direct traffic, officers asked Cruz if the victim had any identification. Police said Cruz told them he was too busy to check.
Cruz was then told that paramedics and an ambulance from South Brunswick were already en route to the scene to transport the patient.
Rural Metro Ambulance is a private ambulance firm and is not affiliated with South Brunswick Township or its three volunteer ambulance squads, according to police.
Police Department spokesman Detective Jim Ryan said that it is the policy of the township that only local squads handle accident situations for insurance reasons.
Police allege that Cruz said he was going to leave the scene with the patient, and when officers asked Cruz who he was and if he was an emergency medical technician, Cruz became hostile and allegedly pushed Sgt. Cresci.
Police said Cruz was told he was under arrest and then allegedly became combative with the officers on the scene.
Four officers had to subdue Cruz, according to police. Cruz was charged with aggravated assault and resisting arrest. He was later released on his own recognizance.
Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad and paramedics took the driver of the Volvo to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick where he was treated and released.