5 Charged with Beating an Off Duty Officer in a Baseless Attack on the Jersey Shore Boardwalk

Five Individuals Arrested for Assaulting Off-Duty Officer at Boardwalk

5 Charged with Beating an Off Duty Officer in a Baseless Attack on the Jersey Shore Boardwalk

According to the Cape May County Prosecutors Office, five arrests have been made regarding the ongoing investigation of an assault that occurred on the Wildwood Boardwalk on the evening of March 12, 2025.

The victim of this assault was an off-duty Stone Harbor Police Officer who sustained significant injuries, including a concussion and facial fractures, because of this unprovoked attack. The incident occurred while the victim was running on the Wildwood Boardwalk.

In the wake of this violent assault, the Wildwood Police Department Detectives, in cooperation with the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit, initiated an investigation. Detectives quickly determined that the attack was unprovoked and targeted the victim while he was exercising on the Boardwalk.

Through diligent investigative efforts, detectives identified a group of individuals who had traveled to Wildwood from Gloucester and Camden Counties and were responsible for this attack. As a result of this, arrest warrants and court-ordered search warrants were executed in both Gloucester and Camden Counties, leading to the arrests of Isaiah Ortiz, age 19; Elijah Williams, age 19; William Jewell, age 20; Manuel Ortiz, age 21 and Maliky Reyes, age 20.

Isaiah Ortiz, of Lindenwold, was charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit assault, and failure to render aid to a victim. Ortiz is being held at the Cape May County Correctional Facility.

Elijah Williams, of Deptford, was charged with aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit assault. Williams is being held at the Cape May County Correctional Facility.

William Jewell, 20, of Magnolia, was charged with failure to render aid to a victim. Jewell was released on a summons.

Manuel Ortiz, 21, of Lindenwold, was charged with failure to render aid to a victim. Ortiz was released on a summons.

Maliky Reyes, 20, of Stafford, was charged with failure to render aid to a victim. Reyes was released on a summons.

This is an ongoing investigation and Prosecutor Sutherland and Chief Murphy urge anyone who may have additional information relating to this investigation to contact the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 609-465-1135, the Wildwood Police Department Detective Division at 609-522-0222 or anonymously through the Prosecutor’s Office website at cmcpo.tips