An FBI agent has been charged with striking a pedestrian with his vehicle while driving against traffic and subsequently attempting to conceal the incident, according to an indictment unsealed by the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Andrew Reyes, 30, was operating an FBI-issued Chevrolet Impala with its emergency lights activated on Ocean Parkway and Beverley Road in Kensington, Brooklyn, early on February 3. Prosecutors allege that Reyes was driving against the flow of traffic when he collided with a man crossing the street.
The impact rendered the victim unconscious. Court documents state that after stopping his vehicle, Reyes dragged the injured man from the roadway across the sidewalk to a nearby bench. He then allegedly retrieved the victim’s bag and placed it beside him on the bench, leaving the severely injured and unattended individual. Reyes was fired from his position at the FBI’s New York field office amid the investigation into the incident.
“The defendant’s alleged conduct demonstrated a shocking disregard for human life and his sworn oath to uphold the law,” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Joe Nocella said in a statement.
Further compounding the alleged offenses, Reyes is accused of lying to investigators from the Department of Justice’s inspector general’s office. During a May interview, he reportedly claimed he had never struck anyone with an FBI vehicle and failed to report such an incident, according to the indictment.
The victim of the crash survived the incident, though the extent of his injuries has not been disclosed.
Reyes, who joined the FBI in 2023, was scheduled to make his initial appearance in Brooklyn federal court on Thursday afternoon. He faces potential charges including willfully depriving an individual of their constitutional rights while acting under the color of law and making false statements. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.