Off Duty Officer Killed in Car Crash is Identified
February 14, 2022Fuddrucker’s in Toms River, NJ
February 14, 2022
Hal Wander, 25, of Port Charlotte, Florida,
While Trespassing, a Man Admitted to Ramming Joint Base Police Cars
The US Attorney's Office stated this week that a Florida man admitted intentionally ramming the vehicles of two military police officers while driving past a checkpoint at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in November 2020.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said Hal Wander, 25, of Port Charlotte, Florida, pled guilty by teleconference before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez on Feb. 8 to charges of assault on two federal officials with a deadly and dangerous weapon, specifically a motor vehicle.
Wander allegedly drove his vehicle onto the base on Nov. 16, 2020, at a high rate of speed and without pausing at the designated check point, according to authorities. Authorities said two marked military police vehicles after Wander, with one driving in front of him to try to stop him and the other pulling up behind him.
Wander deliberately collided with the MP's car in front of him, then collided with the MP's car behind him.
While Wander's car was stopped, the MP who had been blocking him from the front leaned in and attempted to turn off the ignition, but Wander drove forward, pulling the MP several feet before he was able to free himself. Wander "continued to drive his vehicle erratically until he hit a power post, came to a stop, and was detained," according to authorities.
According to authorities, the assault offense carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in jail. The date for Wander's sentence has been set for June 15.
