Ex-FBI agent charged after hitting pedestrian in Brooklyn
Prosecutors say Andrew Reyes struck a man with a government car, moved him to a bench, and fled the scene without calling for medical help in February.
By Tessa Cooper ·
A former FBI agent faces federal charges for striking a pedestrian with an agency vehicle in Brooklyn last February. The indictment alleges Andrew Reyes hit the man, moved him to a nearby bench, and left the area without notifying emergency services.
According to the federal indictment, Reyes was driving his FBI-issued car through a red light on a major Brooklyn thoroughfare. He was traveling the wrong direction and had his lights on when he struck the unnamed pedestrian. Prosecutors state the vehicle’s emergency lights remained active while Reyes drove away from the scene.
The Justice Department alleges that after the collision, Reyes exited his car and dragged the unconscious man from the street across the sidewalk onto a bench. Reyes then returned to the roadway to retrieve the victim’s bag and placed it next to the man on the bench. He did not call hospitals or medical emergency services before departing.
Reyes was charged with willfully depriving an individual of his constitutional rights while acting under color of law. He also faces a charge of making false statements. Prosecutors note that Reyes was interviewed months after the incident by special agents from the Justice Department’s internal investigator. During that interview, Reyes allegedly lied about whether he had ever hit a person with his FBI car and failed to report it.
The indictment states that Reyes falsely told the agents he had not struck anyone with the vehicle. US Attorney Joseph Nocella for the Eastern District of New York addressed the conduct in a written statement. He described the alleged actions as a shocking disregard for human life and the agent’s sworn oath to uphold the law.
Nocella said the charges send a clear message that no one is above the law. He added that those who abuse their position of trust and deprive citizens of their constitutional rights will be prosecuted. The FBI has not responded to requests for comment regarding the case.
CNN has not been able to identify an attorney for Reyes. The indictment was handed up this week. The incident occurred early one morning in February. Reyes has since been separated from the FBI.
